A COVID-19 test that you can take at home — and get results back in minutes on your smartphone — is now a reality.
BD announced Thursday that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued an Emergency Use Authorization for the BD Veritor At-Home COVID-19 Test.
The test will initially be made available to businesses, schools and governments looking to provide a self-testing option for employees or students — potentially serving the need of the numerous organizations that will require vaccination or proof of a negative test.
The test will use a simple, pain-free nasal swab and an easy-to-use mobile app from Scanwell Health that yields reliable test results in 15 minutes. The app is available on iOS and Android and provides step-by-step instructions on how to collect and transfer the nasal swab sample to the test stick. The mobile device’s camera is then used to capture, analyze and interpret the results, which eliminates the human subjectivity of a visually read test.
BD officials said the test is designed to be easily performed at home by people 14 years of age or older. The test can also be used for children as young as 2 years old with samples collected by an adult. The test kit includes a nasal swab, video instructions that guide users through each step and built-in timers so users can self-test with confidence.
BD officials say it’s the first at-home COVID-19 rapid antigen test to use computer vision technology in a smartphone to interpret and provide a digital display of testing results. The test does not require a prescription.
Dave Hickey, president of life sciences for BD, said the test meets a growing need.
“The rise in COVID-19 cases from the Delta variant has increased the demand for at-home testing, and the BD Veritor At-Home COVID-19 Test is an easy-to-use test with definitive digital results that is ideal for use in the home,” he said. “New mandates from governments and businesses are specifying the need for periodic testing for those who cannot or chose not to be vaccinated, and this new test may help businesses, governments or schools fulfill those requirements.”
BD, one of the largest global medical technology companies in the world, is headquartered in Franklin Lakes.
