Key points: 

-The FDA announced today they have “authorized the first diagnostic test with a home collection option for COVID-19,” increasing our country’s testing capacities.

-This means some patients will soon be able to take a COVID-19 test at home, send the sample to a lab and get the results.

– At-home collection of samples is a critical breakthrough to mitigate the risks, especially for vulnerable populations, associated with leaving the house and going to a testing facility.

Details: 

Together with LabCorp, the federal government authorized at-home test kits for patients as we work to stop COVID-19. While this does not authorize all at-home testing kits, it is a major step forward to increase the number of tests our country will be able to complete – a big step forward in locking down the virus.

“We worked with LabCorp to ensure the data demonstrated from at-home patient sample collection is as safe and accurate as sample collection at a doctor’s office, hospital or other testing site,” FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn, M.D. said. “With this action, there is now a convenient and reliable option for patient sample collection from the comfort and safety of their home.”

LabCorp said they intend to make these at-home testing kits available in most states in the coming weeks. Patients can receive a test with a doctor’s order. The FDA stressed that this new authorization is for the LabCorp home self-collection kit only and does not apply to any other at-home testing kits.

Want to read more on the fight against Coronavirus? Read our Coronavirus Bulletin here which contains our extensive FAQ about recent federal actions.

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