The first at-home test for the new coronavirus, COVID-19, may soon be available, with the company selling the test, myLAB Box, opening a pre-sale. The pre-sale is opening to healthcare providers, and the test is not yet directly available to consumers.
The tests will be offered at cost to help emergency response efforts, with free 24-hour shipping and telemedicine consultations if the tests are directly purchased from the retailer. Based in Los Angeles, myLAB Box was founded in 2013 and was the first company to offer an at-home screening platform for STDs.
The launch of the at-home test comes at a time when the U.S. has lagged behind other countries when it comes to COVID-19 testing, after a series of hang-ups including a set of botched tests.
The number of cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. has climbed to more than 10,000, while the number of deaths hovers at 150, according to an update from the CDC on March 19. Only about 20,000 Americans have been tested for COVID-19, according to myLAB.
"U.S. healthcare systems are strained and may reach their limits due to the COVID-19 pandemic," myLAB Box CEO and Co-founder Lora Ivanova said in a statement. "Increases in demand at care centers and labs require innovative solutions to address shortages and improve access to potentially infected patients. The WHO and CDC agree that testing is the foundation of an effective public health response to save lives. By opening sales to professional healthcare providers first we aim to alleviate some of the challenges they are struggling with, allowing them to better serve their patients anytime and anywhere."
Another company that offers at-home testing for a number of issues, EverlyWell, also announced it would make a home test available for consumers beginning March 23. The test can be ordered on the company’s website, though a doctor still needs to prescribe the test.
Amy joined TriMed Media as a Senior Writer for HealthExec after covering home care for three years. When not writing about all things healthcare, she fulfills her lifelong dream of becoming a pirate by sailing in regattas and enjoying rum. Fun fact: she sailed 333 miles across Lake Michigan in the Chicago Yacht Club "Race to Mackinac."