News Coronavirus News FDA Authorizes the First COVID-19 At-Home Test: What You Need to Know By Korin Miller Korin Miller is a health and lifestyle journalist who has been published in The Washington Post, Prevention, SELF, Women's Health, The Bump, and Yahoo, among other outlets. Learn about our editorial process Korin Miller Fact checked by Fact checked by James Lacy on November 21, 2020 linkedin James Lacy, MLS, is a fact checker and researcher. James received a Master of Library Science degree from Dominican University. Learn about our editorial process James Lacy November 21, 2020 Share Tweet Email Print Courtesy of Lucira Key Takeaways The FDA authorized the first at-home test kit for COVID-19.Results are available in as little as 30 minutes.Experts say it’s a good next step in expanding testing. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted an emergency use authorization this week for the first self-administered at-home test kit for COVID-19. The $50 test, which is called the Lucira COVID-19 All-In-One Test Kit, is designed to detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. It’s available for home use for people 14 and older through a prescription, according to the FDA At-Home COVID-19 Test Comparable to Clinic Test, Study Finds "While COVID-19 diagnostic tests have been authorized for at-home collection, this is the first that can be fully self-administered and provide results at home," FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn, MD, said in a statement “This new testing option is an important diagnostic advancement to address the pandemic and reduce the public burden of disease transmission.” He added, “Today’s action underscores the FDA’s ongoing commitment to expand access to COVID-19 testing.” What This Means For You You can now test for COVID-19 at home. Lucira's at-home test kit may not be widely available yet, but if you’re interested in taking it, contact your doctor about getting a prescription and next steps. How It Works The rapid test uses a molecular amplification technology, which searches for signs of the genetic material of SARS-CoV-2 in people who are suspected of having the virus. It can give results in just 30 minutes, per the FDA. To use it, a patient will take a swab of the inside of their nose. That sample is then swirled in a vial that’s placed in the test unit. The results can be read directly from the unit’s light-up display that clearly says whether the person is positive or negative for COVID-19. According to Lucira Health, which makes the test kit, the company’s research has shown that 100% of users aged 14 and up were able to use and administer the kit. How Accurate Is the Test? The test has comparable accuracy to rapid tests. Lucira says that, when compared to an FDA-authorized sensitivity test for SARS-CoV-2, Lucira had a 94% positive percent agreement and a 98% negative percent agreement. And, when samples were excluded that had very low levels of the virus that could indicate that there was no longer an active infection, Lucira had a 100% positive percent agreement. Currently, there are two types of diagnostic tests: molecular tests, such as RT-PCR tests, that detect the virus’s genetic material, and antigen tests that detect specific proteins from the virus. This kit uses a molecular test, which is more reliable than antigen tests that "usually provide results diagnosing an active coronavirus infection faster than molecular tests, but have a higher chance of missing an active infection," according to the FDA he FDA does stress that people who test negative but are still experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 should follow up with their healthcare provider “as negative results do not preclude an individual from SARS-CoV-2 infection.” 1 in 5 COVID-19 Tests Give False-Negative Results, Studies Find What Experts Think “We have been waiting for this,” Thomas Russo, MD, professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo, tells Verywell. “It’s fantastic.” Richard Watkins, MD, an infectious disease physician in Akron, Ohio, and a professor of internal medicine at the Northeast Ohio Medical University, agrees. “It is good news because there is still a critical need for more testing in the United States,” he tells Verywell. “Testing is a key component for controlling the pandemic.” Amesh A. Adalja, MD, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, tells Verywell that this is a “good first step forward.” But, he says, it’s not perfect. “It’s still an expensive test that requires a prescription,” he says. COVID-19 and Your Health Insurance The prescription requirement “could diminish availability” to the general public who may not want to go through the steps of contacting their doctor and picking up a prescription before being tested, Russo says. He also has concerns that the test could cause false confidence in people. “The test is good for a single point in time,” he says. “But no test is perfect, and what you do afterward matters, too.” Given that the test isn’t cheap, Adalja says it may be best used in areas like nursing homes where rapid results are needed. It also may gain popularity for at-home use by the general public but, he points out, the cost can be a deterrent to regular use. But Watkins says it may simply be a good option for people to use once in a while. “It could give some reassurance to people traveling or visiting others for the upcoming holidays,” he says. At-Home Testing for COVID:19: How to Get It and Who Is Eligible The Lucira Test Kit is expected to be available to patients served by Sutter Health in Northern California, and Cleveland Clinic Florida in Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, soon By early spring 2021, the company expects it to be available nationally through healthcare providers. Adalja stresses that, while this is a good option to have, testing in the U.S. still needs to change. “This is a first step to more access to testing, but the technology has to become cheaper and simpler,” he says. “Overall, though, it signals that the paradigm is changing.” Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. U.S. Food and Drug administration. Lucira COVID-19 all-in-one test kit. Updated November 17, 2020. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Coronavirus (COVID-19) update: FDA authorizes first COVID-19 test for self-testing at home. Updated November 17, 2020. Lucira Health. Breaking news: Lucira Health receives 1st FDA authorization for COVID-19 self-testing at home. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Coronavirus disease 2019 testing basics. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Coronavirus (COVID-19) update: FDA authorizes first COVID-19 test for self-testing at home. Updated November 17, 2020. Lucira Health. FDA authorizes first prescription at home molecular test for COVID-19. Updated November 18, 2020.