In a major development, the US Food and Drug Administration has approved the first at-home COVID-19 test kit, which is expected to bring coronavirus testing to the doorsteps of every household.
The first at-home test kit has been developed by LabCorp, aUS company which has a network of medical laboratories across the country. Itcosts USD 119 in the United States.
“This is a test where under certain circumstances withdoctor supervision, a test can be mailed to a patient, and the patient canperform the self-swab and then mail it back and get the results after that timeall under the guidance of a licensed physician,” FDA Commissioner Stephen MHahn told reporters at a White House news conference.
Earlier this week, Adam Schechter, president and CEO ofLabCorp said that its at-home collection kits are designed to make it easierand safer to test healthcare workers and first responders during this importanttime.The authorisationpermits nasal swab specimens to be collected at home using the test homecollection kit if recommended by a healthcare provider after completing aCOVID-19 questionnaire, LabCorp said.