Selangor Journal
A doctor wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) collects a swab sample from a man to be tested for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) at a clinic, as the outbreak continues in Shah Alam, Selangor, on October 5, 2020. — Picture by REUTERS

US approves first self-administered Covid-19 test

WASHINGTON, Nov 18 — The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said on Tuesday that it had authorised the country’s first Covid-19 diagnostic kit for self-testing at home, reports Xinhua news agency.

Users can collect a sample with nasal swabs included in the all-in-one test kit and swirl the swab in a vial. In at most 30 minutes, the results — whether a person is positive or negative for the novel coronavirus — can be read from the test unit’s light-up display, the FDA said in a statement.

The test kit, made by Lucira Health, has been authorised for home use for individuals aged 14 and older who are suspected of Covid-19 by their health care provider.

The test can also be used in point-of-care (POC) settings — emergency rooms or hospitals for example — for all ages, but samples of those younger than 14 must be collected by a healthcare provider, the FDA said.

“While Covid-19 diagnostic tests have been authorised for at-home collection, this is the first that can be fully self-administered and provide results at home,” FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn said.

The single-use test is currently authorised for prescription use only.

— Bernama

 

 

 

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