A test set that is directly for ordinary consumers and is testing a variety of different respiratory viruses, including COVID-19 and influenza , has been authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The test is the first such test approved by the FDA, allowing consumers to obtain such a diagnosis without passing a doctor or requiring a prescription.
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COVID-19 The epidemic has fundamentally changed the way we get diagnostic tests. Rapid antigen tests for COVID-19 allow people to test for SARS-CoV-2 infection without seeing a doctor. And now the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the first home test kit that can distinguish several respiratory viruses.
This test set is provided by life sciences company Labcorp to find traces of influenza A and B, SARS-CoV-2 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Unlike the common rapid antigen test, this new test uses a more traditional PCR (polymerase chain reaction) technique. This means it requires the nasal swab to be sent to the lab for analysis.
This kit is called Labcorp Seasonal Respiratory Virus RT-PCR DTC Test, which will be available in stores or online without prescriptions. Users will complete a nasal swab at home, send the sample to the nearest Labcorp lab, and obtain the results through an online platform within one to three days after the lab receives the sample. "While the FDA has now authorized many COVID-19 test kits that require no prescription, this is the first to authorize tests for flu and RSV as well as COVID-19, where individuals can self-identify their needs for testing, order, collect their samples and send them to the lab for testing without consulting a healthcare professional."
This test obviously cannot quickly return test results to guide immediate treatment or isolation decisions, but knowing if the infection is COVID, flu, or even RSV will be valuable in the long run. Shuren said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is seeking to expand direct-to-consumer diagnostics like this, hoping for a quick version of the tests for people to diagnose themselves immediately at home.
