People are starting to get the option to test for coronavirus in their own houses thanks to at-home testing kits. As of right now, the US has the highest number of virus cases in the world, and while that higher number might be the result of more testing, there’s still a concern that enough tests are not taking place. Apart from a shortage of masks and ventilators, a major worry is the lack of test kit availability, and the time (and resources) it takes to carry out a test.
Since people in most major cities in the US are having to stay at home, widespread testing at hospitals and other medical centers is a serious challenge. While newly developed rapid tests might help test more in a short space of time, those suspected still have to leave their house to get tested. Tech companies like Apple and Google have been helping out by creating screening websites that can be used by anyone with internet access. Unfortunately, they merely help by allowing someone to check their symptoms against coronavirus symptoms, and not actually provide an answer This can lead to multiple different issues, including unnecessary panic or a false sense of security, when users misread the symptoms and/or provide the website with inaccurate information. Not to mention, there are also security concerns regarding how data is collected by some of these websites.
Home kits might help overcome all of these challenges. However, as CNET explains, there is a catch. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued warnings regarding these kits, suggesting they could be fraudulent since they are violating the FDA’s Emergency Use Operation guidelines. One of the violations being delivery of kits to homes (and samples back to labs) through the regular mail. Moreover, as with most medical tests, it is better if trained medical professionals are the ones doing the testing. Nevertheless, these are desperate times and the US healthcare system doesn’t seem to be doing well under the intense pressure now placed on it. As a result, people might find they need to rely on at-home kits to carry out their own tests.
Coronavirus Home Testing Challenges
In the US, three main companies — EverlyWell, Scanwell and Nurx — are currently developing at-home test kits. While orders were paused after the recent FDA warning, EverlyWell is giving their kits to doctors. Amazon, meanwhile, is working with the Gates Foundation to deliver kits to homes and then take the samples back to labs, albeit only in the Seattle area at the moment. Regardless of access to a home kit, the main challenge is going to be taking a sample from the nose or mouth. Untrained individuals might not be able to get a proper sample for testing and a correct sample is crucial for an accurate test. While this could be taught through video tutorials, sending the samples back to the lab can also be tricky, as any damage during the journey could impact the result. A transportation system like that of Amazon’s might prove to be an effective solution for this.
With these concerns in mind, the general consensus is that it remains the better option to get tested at a lab, following a doctor’s advice, instead of trying tests that have been developed under short notice. After all, there is no point in carrying out tests if the results are unlikely to be correct. Since coronavirus is extremely contagious, proper testing is not only crucial to understanding the outbreak, but also containing it.
