US FDA approves first at-home COVID-19 test kit

In a major development, the US Food and Drug Administration has approved the first at-home COVID-19 test kit, which is expected to bring coronavirus testing to the doorsteps of every household.

The test kit, costing 119 dollars in the US, has been developed by LabCorp, an American company with a network of medical laboratories across the country.

Speaking at a White House news conference, FDA Commissioner Stephen M Hahn said that under certain circumstances with doctor supervision, a test can be mailed to a patient, and the patient can perform the self-swab and then mail it back to get the results.

The FDA authorisation permits nasal swab specimens to be collected at home using the test kit if recommended by a healthcare provider after completing a COVID-19 questionnaire.