More affordable Covid-19 self-test kit due in shops in December after initial online stock sold out

• Distributor Alcotech expects to deliver its first batch of online orders for the Flowflex test kits by the end of the month
• Flowflex kits can be ordered for S$35 for a box of five on Alcotech’s website, among the cheapest on offer right now
• It is among a number of cheaper test kits that the Government is approving for use here
• The distributor expects the kits to be available in pharmacies, convenience stores and supermarkets in December

SINGAPORE — The Singapore distributor of the Flowflex brand of Covid-19 antigen rapid test kits said on Monday (Nov 22) that it aims to have the the self-swab kits available at retail stores here next month after initial stock sold out within three days. Online sales were launched on Nov 8.

The Flowflex antigen rapid test kits are the most recent to be approved for use in Singapore and its distributor Alcotech said that they would be available at pharmacies, convenience stores and supermarkets. These outlets would set the pricing, it added.

Delivery of the initial online orders of the kits, which sold out three days after their launch here, would be made by the end of November.

Alcotech did not say how many online orders it has received so far.

On its website, the Flowflex self-test kits can be ordered for S$35 for a box of five, with delivery scheduled between Dec 6 and 10. This equates to S$7 for each kit, among the cheapest on offer right now.

Website listings showed that the prices of antigen rapid test kits for home use have gone down since last week when they were mostly priced above S$10.

An SD Biosensor home-test kit costs S$7.60 each when bought in a pack of two at NTUC FairPrice supermarket and an Abbott Panbio kit in a box of four is priced at S$7.20 each at Watsons health and beauty products store.

The Flowflex kits, developed by United States-based diagnostic and medical devices firm Acon Laboratories, were authorised for use in Singapore by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) on Nov 8 under the Pandemic Special Access Route for critical new medical products during a pandemic.

It is the 10th Covid-19 self-test kit to be approved here so far.

Last Monday, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said that Flowflex is among a number of cheaper kits that the authorities will be introducing in Singapore.

Two other brands of kits — Alltest and Indicaid — have met Singapore’s quality standards and are undergoing registration with the Health Sciences Authority (HSA). Mr Ong said then that he hopes these kits will eventually be priced below S$5 each.

Asked for an update, HSA referred TODAY to a list of approved kits on its website, which did not include Alltest and Indicaid as of Monday.

In response to queries, Watsons said that it is constantly exploring more options of kits for customers.

“We are currently in discussion with more approved antigen rapid test kits suppliers who carry (them), to bring in (these) kits at (a) more affordable price range, and will announce this as soon as we have more details.”

NTUC FairPrice said: “We are working closely with the authorities and our suppliers to ensure sufficient supplies and wider range to cater to the varying needs of the community. More details will be announced as soon as they are available.”

Covid-19 self-test kits are also available on various e-commerce websites, some of which are shipped from overseas, although prices did not seem to differ much from retail stores.

Although people in Singapore are allowed to buy and use these test kits from sellers on e-commerce sites, HSA said that any wholesale reselling of such kits requires licences and approval from the authority.

“Individuals purchasing these antigen rapid test self-test kits from retailers (both online and in stores) should note that these kits are meant for self-testing purposes only,” HSA said.

Anyone convicted of the unauthorised onward supply of such goods via wholesale can be jailed for up to two years or fined up to $50,000, or both.