The tests are available from today.
Circle K has announced it will start selling Covid-19 antigen tests in all stores, excluding Circle K Express, beginning on Friday, 4 June.
Tests are priced at €8 for an individual test but customers will be able to purchase two tests for €14 and three tests for €20.
The antigen test product has been manufactured in Germany and is being supplied through Irish pharmaceutical company, MyBio, and is EU certified.
The results are available in 15 minutes, however, Circle K said it is not intended as the sole basis to diagnose or exclude a Covid-19 case.
“As society continues to reopen and with strong progress on the vaccine rollout front, we feel there is a demand for access to antigen testing products to help further manage the risk associated with this virus,” Gordon Lawlor, Managing Director, Circle K Ireland said.
“We see the use of antigen tests as a complementary additional safety measure alongside the existing public health advice and Government guidance. It is really important that customers continue to abide by these measures and exercise good judgement when it comes to the usage of antigen tests.”
Antigen testing has been a controversial subject in Ireland in recent weeks with Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan recommending the public not to base decisions on results of antigen tests.
“In controlled and appropriate circumstances antigen testing has a very important role to play potentially,” Dr Holohan said last month.
“The use of antigen tests by the general public, applying those tests to themselves… is still something we strongly recommend against.
“We’re still clear on that. I know these tests are available. I know people are buying them. We still strongly recommend against that because you cannot rely on a negative result. In effect, a negative result does not tell you anything.”
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