Author: Tate Fonda
The COVID-19 pandemic has urged scientific progress to be made in the field of virology. In a historic decision, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first at-home COVID test: the Lucira COVID-19 All-In-One Test Kit.
Lucira states that the test can be personally used by individuals over the age of fourteen, and used with the assistance of a healthcare provider if the tested individual is younger. It consists of a three step system that takes thirty minutes to produce a result. It begins with the individual swabbing their nose and stirring the sample into a vial. They then wait for the result, and seek treatment if the result is positive (Lucira Health, 2020).
The steps do not tend to confuse the general population from age 14 and up. In a clinical study conducted by Lucira in the Summer of 2020, they were able to measure that 100% of tested participants aged 14 and older were able to run their own test (Lucira Usability Clinical Study, 2020). Healthcare providers are also able to provide informed help for those groups that need it.
The test is also generally affordable. For the first developed and FDA approved at-home testing technology, a $50 price tag is not a reach for profits, respectively. However, the all-in-one kit is a single use testing system, so more kits will have to be purchased to test frequently (Romo, 2020).
Now that the general technology is developed for the at-risk public, more companies with more testing kits at ranging prices and quantities may begin to reach the people. Details will continue to develop on the Lucira COVID-19 All-In-One Test Kit, soon to be on the market as the first at-home COVID-19 testing technology.
Sources:
Lucira Health. (2020, November 18). Retrieved November 18, 2020, from https://www.lucirahealth.com/
Lucira Health. (2020). Lucira Usability Clinical Study.
Romo, V. (2020, November 17). FDA approves first at-home coronavirus test. NPR.org. https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/11/17/936055284/fda-appro ves-first-at-home-coronavirus-test
Image Sources:
Lucira Health Inc.