SARS-CoV-2 self-test uptake and factors associated with self-testing during Omicron BA. 1 and BA. 2

Full title: SARS-CoV-2 self-test uptake and factors associated with self-testing during Omicron BA. 1 and BA. 2 waves in France, January to May 2022.

Eurosurveillance

Supplisson O, Charmet T, Galmiche S, Schaeffer L, Chény O, Lévy A, ... & Fontanet, A.

Key public health message

What did you want to address in this study?

Self-tests carry the promise to make people more autonomous in their COVID-19 disease management. We wished to investigate the use of self-tests and the characteristics (sociodemographic and medical) associated with their uptake in France during the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron-BA.1 and BA.2 epidemic waves (from 20 January to 2 May 2022).

What have we learnt from this study?

The French population quickly and widely adopted self-testing, with 0.5 to 2 million people self-testing every day during the study period (BA.1 and BA.2 omicron waves). Use of self-test was motivated primarily by the presence of symptoms, or a history of contact with an infected person. It was however less common in older people, those with diploma lower than high school level and those not French by birth.

What are the implications of your findings for public health?

The analysis reveals inequalities in SARS-CoV-2 testing uptake, which must be addressed through easier access and better communication for self-testing to be used as a more efficient control tool during future epidemic waves.

More information at https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2023.28.18.2200781