Labcorp Covid Testing: FDA Authorizes First Over-the-Counter, Non-Prescription System for Home Use

Labcorp Covid Testing: FDA Authorizes First Over-the-Counter, Non-Prescription System for Home Use
The Labcorp Pixel COVID-19 Test Home Collection Kit allows anyone 18 and older to purchase the kit and collect nasal swab samples at home. The FDA said In a news release on Wednesday. The samples are then sent to the Labcorp facility for testing.

Positive or invalid results are returned to the customer by phone or by a healthcare provider. Users will be notified by email or portal online if the results are negative.

“While many home storage kits can be suggested with a simple question naline questionnaire, this new authentic direct-to-consumer collection kit removes that step from the process, allowing anyone to collect their sample and send it to the lab for processing,” Jeff Shuren, director of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health, said in a statement.

The FDA said the kit could help individuals understand their Covid-19 status and make decisions when needed for self-isolation or quarantine. It can also help with healthcare decisions after discussing with providers.

“With this authorization, we can help more people be tested, reduce the spread of the virus and improve the health of our communities,” said Brian Cavani, chief medical officer and president of Labcorp Diagnostics. Said a statemanT.
The new kit is now available through Pixel via Labcorp website And may be available in stores soon, the company said in a news release.

After purchasing the test, users register the kit on the website and follow the instructions included.

“Test results are delivered securely to the customer via Pixel through the Labcorp portal,” Labcorp said. “The healthcare provider will advise customers who test positive to assist in healthcare treatments and actions.”

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The company stressed in its news release that the new Covid-19 AT-Home test kit is not an option for a doctor’s visit.

Covid-19 prescription test at home first

Last month the FDA issued the EUA for the first self-test for the Covid-19 that could provide fast Results at home, But the Lucira COVID-19 All-in-One Test Kit, a nuclear single-use test, is only available by prescription.

The FDA said rapid testing uses molecular amplification technology to detect the virus in people with known or suspected Covid-19 and could return results within 30 minutes, the FDA said.

A molecular covid-19 test detects signs of the genetic material of the coronavirus.

There are currently two types of diagnostic tests: molecular tests, such as RT-PCR tests, that detect the genetic material of the virus; And antigen tests that detect specific proteins from viruses.

At the time of the EU for the Lucira test, FDA Commissioner d Step. Stephen Hayne called it an important development.

“This new testing option is an important diagnostic progression to eliminate the epidemic and reduce the public burden of disease transmission,” Hayne said.

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azare also said testing was an important step forward at the time.

“Making it possible for Americans to perform their own rapid COVID-19 auto-test by home prescription is the latest addition to our ever-expanding arsenal of COVID-19 testing options,” Azar said in a statement.

But some health experts urged caution.

“The data is still emerging,” Tom Bolecki, director of the World Health Program and senior partner for the development of global health, economics and the Council on Foreign Relations, told CNN. It pays to be cautious, but it’s definitely a promising sign. “

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