December 9th local time, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the emergency use authorization of the first batch of over-the-counter coronavirus test kits for home use.
At a press conference on the 9th, the FDA said that Pixel, a home collection kit product LabCorp uses to test for COVID-19, allows all people over 18 to buy it. After collecting nasal swab samples at home, testers can send them to LabCorp. The agency conducts testing.
After the test is completed, positive or invalid results will be fed back to the tester by phone or through the health care provider. If the result is negative, the tester will be notified by email or official website.
The FDA said the kit can help people keep abreast of their health and decide if and when they need to self-isolate. After discussion with a healthcare provider, its test results can also help testers make health care decisions.
LabCorp also stressed that the new home test suite cannot replace doctors’ visits, and suggested that people should focus on doctors’ diagnosis.
