At-home coronavirus test kits are in the pipeline, company says. Here’s what to know
A health and wellness company will release the first U.S. at-home coronavirus tests soon, the firm said.
As the coronavirus spreads in the U.S., there haven’t been enough tests to keep up with demand. Everlywell, a company that provides at-home lab testing kits, said earlier this week that it is producing at-home tests for COVID-19.
“We’re announcing that an at-home collection kit with telehealth diagnosis for COVID-19 will be available to consumers starting Monday, March 23,” the company said. “The initial supply of 30,000 tests amounts to a significant increase in total COVID-19 tests that have been processed in the U.S. as of March 18, 2020.”
As of Wednesday, there were more than 9,200 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the U.S., according to data from Johns Hopkins.
Everlywell said it plans to have the testing and diagnosis capacity to help 25,000 people every week, according to a news release.
“Using its existing infrastructure and distribution for at-home lab testing, earlier this month Everlywell announced a $1 million dollar development incentive to any certified laboratories who fulfilled requirements set by the FDA and Everlywell to prioritize development of a COVID-19 diagnostic test,” the company said. “The positive response from the laboratory community enabled Everlywell to build the full testing and diagnosis experience for COVID-19 in a matter of days.”
Tests can be requested online for those experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a fever, cough and shortness of breath could appear between two and 14 days after exposure.
To get the test, though, customers need a doctor’s prescription, Time reported. People who want to get tests have to complete a questionnaire from a telehealth partner to receive the prescription, according to the news release. The test costs $135 and will be covered by some HSA and FSA providers.
“Everlywell has reached out to government officials and public health departments to see if the test can be made available for free,” the news release stated. “Given the high demand for testing, the company will work rapidly to make more tests available as the global supply shortage for COVID-19 diagnostic kits is addressed.”
The at-home testing kits will come with a “special swab” that can reach the back of the nose and throat area to take samples, Time reported. People can also send back spit samples as a backup. It also comes with instructions for how to send the swab back to the company, according to the news outlet.
The results of the test will then be sent by text or email, according to Time.
This story was originally published March 18, 2020 at 11:23 PM with the headline "At-home coronavirus test kits are in the pipeline, company says. Here’s what to know."