The Government announced today that throat swab samples will be collected for free nucleic acid tests starting November 8, replacing the current practice of collecting nasal and throat swab samples.

The switch will apply to free nucleic tests conducted at community testing centres/stations, ad-hoc specimen collection stations as well as inbound testing stations at the airport.

Adjustment will also be made to the compulsory testing notices correspondingly, such that a throat swab will be accepted for testing.

The Government said that switching to using a throat swab to collect an upper respiratory tract specimen for nucleic acid test can also achieve high sensitivity.

A throat swab sample is one of the recommended upper respiratory tract specimens listed in the ninth edition of the Protocol for Prevention & Control of COVID-19 published by the National Health Commission.

It is also frequently used in the Mainland for large-scale nucleic acid testing, including centralised isolation and border control.

Trained personnel assigned by the service providers will observe the relevant guidelines issued by the Centre for Health Protection during sample collection so as to ensure the specimen quality.

The collection of throat swab samples by trained personnel can attain reliable sensitivity, reduce the duration taken for sample collection and at the same time streamline the specimen collection procedures.

The adjustment is conducive to enhancing the overall efficiency and boosting the capacity of testing services, while not affecting nucleic acid tests’ accuracy.

The self-paid testing arrangement at community testing centres/stations will remain unchanged. Unless otherwise requested, combined nasal and throat swabs will continue to be used for self-paid testing services.

Members of the public may also opt for other specimen collection methods, including taking nasal swabs, nasopharyngeal swabs or a throat swab that suits their needs, such as meeting the entry requirement of their travel destinations.

The charge of self-paid testing services will remain the same.