At the initial stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, not nearly enough citizens were being tested for the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). This was largely due to the shortage of diagnostic testing capabilities.
And while testing supply eventually increased, shortage of testing kits continue to occur with regional increase in demand. However, tracing infected individuals was and continues to be a crucial step in preventing new infections of COVID-19.
One of the various ideas that cropped up to satisfy diagnostic demands is at-home COVID-19 tests, or tests that anyone can order and complete without physically visiting a provider.
All the services generally require you to complete some type of online consultation test to assess your COVID-19 risk first. Then you'll be sent a test alongside a few set of instructions on the way to collect a sample. A provider from the corporate will follow-up with results and send the further steps through an app, email, or via phone.
It is important to remember that the company provides high accuracy and the tests are authorized or approved by a competent body. Antibody tests are widely used for several conditions. Researchers have developed such a test for COVID-19 antibodies that uses blood from a finger prick and delivers leads in 10-15 minutes.
Home testing will be voluntary, but there’s no doubt more people will test if the tests are cheaper. Removing financial barriers to self-testing by making publicly-funded tests available to the whole population will help maximize rapid implementation of this initiative and help the citizens of our country fight against COVID-19 outbreak.
