A COVID-19 Breakthrough: At Home Testing Kits Coming Soon
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A first in the fight against COVID-19-a test you can take at home to see whether you have the virus.
Health experts have been saying for weeks now more testing has to be done to know just how many people have the coronavirus. But at least right now, the in-home test will not be available to everyone. It was an emergency approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The test costs $119 dollars, developed by LabCorp, a company based in North Carolina. But go on the company's website and you'll see right now it's only available to healthcare workers and first responders. The general public will have access to the test, called the Pixel, in the coming weeks the company said.
No specific date was given.
LabCorp sent CBS 2 video that shows how the in-home coronavirus test works, You won't see the results at home. The samples have to be mailed to the company's lab.
Dr. Benjamin Singer of Northwestern Memorial Hospital sees the potential benefits.
"Number one, just getting more tests out there. We find more about who has the disease. We've been plagued by a lack of tests." Singer said.
But the doctor is cautious, noting no medical test is perfect and the COVID-19 home test result might be a false negative.
"It means the person takes a test at home, they actually have COVID-19 but the test says they don't," Singer said.
The company said you'll have the results of the test a day or two after the lab receives your sample. If the result is positive or can't be determined, a doctor will call.
