First Smartphone-Enabled COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test Awaits FDA Approval

[Baff]

"Unfortunately, getting tested on a mainstream level currently requires a trip to a clinic or government instituted site."

Why is this "unfortunate"? It's normal, they're the experts, they know how to do it right (usually). What a strange point of view.

To get tested in my area, I have to make an appointment days in advance. Then it is a 90 minute roundtrip drive, plus the wait time while I am there. I consider all of that to be quite unfortunate.

I felt a bit under the weather on Saturday. The earliest I could possibly have been tested was today (unless I wanted to drive twice as far while sick). I didn't even consider spending all that time to get tested.

If I could buy a stack of these at a reasonable price, I would. I might buy some of the Ellume home tests (smartphone enabled, and already approved by the FDA) if they offer them at a bulk discount.

Perhaps you live/work somewhere that you can get tested in minutes? If so, you are quite fortunate.

 

[MacFan782040]

There are different kinds of swabs - anterior nare or posterior nasopharynx. The self-admin tests are typically anterior nare.

I’ve gotten several tests at CVS, Rite-Aid, and Walgreens. You stay in your car in the drive-through line and swab yourself. It goes in your nose like 1 inch and doesn’t hurt or feel weird at all. The whole process takes less than 5 minutes.

 

[VermontsFinest]

I’ve gotten several tests at CVS, Rite-Aid, and Walgreens. You stay in your car in the drive-through line and swab yourself. It goes in your nose like 1 inch and doesn’t hurt or feel weird at all. The whole process takes less than 5 minutes.

Right. That is the anterior nare test. Some testing facilities do the deeper one that people talk about, which swabs your nasopharynx.

 

[mamaway]

Like the vaccines, these don't need "approval". They just needed the FDA's "Emergency Use Authorization":

In determining whether to issue an EUA for a product, the FDA evaluates the available evidence and assesses any known or potential risks and any known or potential benefits. And if the benefit-risk assessment is favorable, the product is made available during the public health emergency.​

These tests should have been authorized MONTHS ago, but so far there's only been one, Ellume, according to this.