The world before the global pandemic was markedly different. COVID-19, social distancing, and lateral flow tests were phrases that few had encountered, while self-home pregnancy tests were, for many, the only type of testing kit that they had experienced.
The spread of pandemic disease caused many changes in society, least not a surge in demand for home testing that persists today. With it, comes fresh approaches to personal healthcare and a stronger commitment to self-testing for a variety of conditions.
So, what changes did the COVID-19 pandemic bring about and what is the role of self-test home kits four years after the end of the global health emergency?
Unprecedented Demand And Accessibility
The COVID-19 pandemic opened many people’s eyes to the potential for convenient and inexpensive home testing for the first time, and resulted in an exponential rise in the sale of self-test home kits. Worried by the unhindered spread of the illness and the virus’s ability to be present in some cases with no symptoms at all, many people sought ways to proactively monitor their health and reduce transmission risks, sending demand for lateral flow kits soaring.
Diversification Beyond COVID-19
In response to the pandemic, the scope of self-testing kits has broadened significantly. Lateral flow test kits for COVID-19 are still on sale, although testing is now no longer obligatory, while home test kits for other health conditions are also available, for example to assess vitamin D levels or detect urinary tract infections (UTIs). This expansion reflects the adaptability and versatility of self-testing technologies.
Accelerated Product Innovation And Development
Because COVID-19 spread to the UK with little warning, the country was, initially, unprepared for the situation, with no feasible vaccine or home testing capabilities. Combatting the virus required an urgent response, with scientists and manufacturers working hard to devise new lateral flow tests and enhance their accuracy, speed, and user-friendliness to keep pace with the virus as it mutated. In this respect, the pandemic was a catalyst for groundbreaking advances in self-testing technologies.
Reducing Pressure On The Healthcare System
Self-test kits emerged as a critical tool to ease the burden on the NHS during the pandemic’s peak. Whereas, initially, tests could only be conducted via an official testing station, home lateral flow tests enabled individuals to self-test for the virus. Today, patients have the option to test for other conditions, such as UTIs, in the comfort of their home, without needing to take up the precious time of healthcare staff.
Promoting Lasting Health Awareness
The widespread adoption of self-test kits during the pandemic instigated a long-term behavioural shift. By empowering individuals to take responsibility for their health, it fostered a sense of accountability and proactive health management in which people are more willing to obtain a test kit from a pharmacy and check different aspects of their wellbeing.
Find Out More
If you would like to find out more about the benefits of our self-testing kits, please get in touch on 02825 685385 or sales@cigahealthcare.com today.
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