Is the At Home Covid-19 Test Kit for Sale Effective?

Preliminary data shows the incubation period for the COVID-19 virus is approximately five days but may range between 2 to 14 days. This means if an infected individual isn’t tested within the window period, they are likely to spread the virus to other people. It explains the high infection rates during the first few weeks of the pandemic. At the time, coronavirus test kits were hardly available as only a few companies produced the test kits. The tide has since changed as there’s a higher supply of the test kits, including at-home COVID-19 testing kits. What’s more, the Food and Drug Administration Agency recently authorized nine companies to supply at-home coronavirus tests under the Emergency Use Authorization Act. The move enhances daily coronavirus testing, which is at 73% of what’s required. So, how does the at-home COVID-19 test kit for sale work, and is it effective?

What are At-Home Coronavirus Test Kits?

Any at-home covid-19 test kit for sale is an antigen test that looks for the presence of viral proteins in the body. It’s quick and easy to administer, and anyone can order the test kit at home with just a few clicks. The patient only needs to complete an online consultation that assesses their COVID-19 risk and order the test online. The company then sends it along with the guidelines on sample collection. The patient then ships the sample to the provider, who then follows up the results via email, app, or phone. The results should be ready online within 24-72 hours of the lab’s receival of the sample, depending on the provider.

What Types of At-Home Coronavirus Tests are Available?

There are two types of at-home covid-19 test kits for sale: the swab tests and saliva tests.

Swab Tests

The patient uses a swab to collect a sample from the cheek or the nose for testing. The FDA approved the first at-home swab tests on April 21 after confirming that it was as accurate as nasal swab tests collected by a professional. Initially, patients needed a doctor’s order to purchase the coronavirus test kit, but it’s now available to everyone after taking a short questionnaire.

Saliva Test

It is similar to a saliva test as the patient only needs to spit into the test kit, seal it and ship it to the lab for analysis. It’s less invasive and eliminates the need for healthcare professionals to travel to testing sites. The FDA was rather hesitant to approve saliva tests as an effective method for COVID-19 virus analysis. However, according to Yale Public Health researchers’ preliminary research, the tests are just as accurate as nasal swab tests.

Is the At-Home Covid-19 Test Kit for Sale FDA-Approved?

Medical testing companies began developing home test kits as early as March, but the FDA was hesitant to authorize them, warning consumers of fraudulent tests. However, the spike in infections prompted the organization to authorize a few medical testing companies to supply at-home COVID-19 test kits.

Do At-Home COVID-19 Test Kits for Sale Perform Serological Tests?

There are two tests for coronavirus: serological and molecular tests. Currently, the at-home FDA-authorized covid-19 test kit for sale can only perform molecular tests. This kind detects the presence of COVID-19 genetic material in a patient’s sample while a serological test identifies antibodies in the blood.

Is the At-Home COVID-19 Test Kit for Sale Effective?

The FDA confirmed that it worked with all the authorized medical testing companies to ensure that the at-home coronavirus testing kit is safe and provides accurate test results. However, it’s important to remember that the test kits have not gone through the rigorous review the FDA usually conducts.

Where Can You Buy At-Home Covid-19 Test Kits?

So far, the FDA has authorized nine companies to supply at-home test kits. The companies require customers to fill out a form that prioritizes tests for patients who have been exposed to the virus and are exhibiting symptoms.

Evidently, at-home coronavirus testing is now possible. With the FDA having authorized nine medical testing companies to supply at-home Covid-19 test kits, patients no longer need to visit hospitals and testing sites to get tested. This means testing centers can attain the required daily testing requirements and curb coronavirus spread on time.