The first at - home diagnostic exam kit to observe Covid-19 infection has been authorized by the US Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) under anemergency use authorization .
However , the trial has not been approved or exculpate by the way and is only allowed during a period of time that “ circumstance exist justifying the authorization of emergency role of in vitro diagnostic tests for detection and/or diagnosing , ” notes trial - Lord Laboratory Corporation of America ( LabCorp ) in apress release .
“ The FDA ’s around - the - clock employment since this outbreak commence has resulted in the authorization of more than 50 diagnostic tests and engagement with over 350 test developers , " said FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn , M.D. , in astatement . " Specifically , for exam that include menage sample assembling , we worked with LabCorp to guarantee the datum demonstrated from at - home patient sampling collection is as safe and exact as sampling collection at a Doctor of the Church ’s office , hospital or other testing site . "

The authorization permits LabCorp’sPixelcollection outfit to test for the mien of SARS - CoV-2 , the coronavirus responsible for for Covid-19 , in samples collected at home . The molecular test determines whether a someone is presently infected with the novel coronavirus and does not square off whether they have beenpreviously infect . ( Though there is an upcoming National Institutes of Healthstudyset to reply that very interrogation . ) Test kits will first be made available to wellness care workers and first answerer who may have been exposed to the virus before rolling out to consumers in most states with a Dr. ’s order in the next few week .
The12 - step instructionsdirect patient role to first complete an online sketch and if view as eligible , they can bribe the FedEx - shipped test kit for $ 119 . patient cantake a samplefrom their olfactory organ using a Q - peak - style cotton fiber swob and saline . collect samples are then mail in an insulated bundle directly to LabCorp for testing .
LabCorp preeminence there is still a hypothesis the tests may produce put on negatives either due to short collection techniques by the drug user or because of the nature of the computer virus . Symptoms typically seem between two and 14 days after being expose to the virus , accordingto the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . If feeling pale , wellness care official advocate calling a doctor or consulting a healthcare professional through teleservices before an in - person sojourn . Go to the infirmary if hand brake word of advice signs develop .