An at-home test for coronavirus won emergency use approval Monday from the federal Food and Drug Administration.
The Quidel QuickVue test got the green light as the government seeks to make it easier for Americans to determine if they have been infected with the deadly virus.
“The FDA continues to prioritize the availability of more at-home testing options in response to the pandemic,” said Dr. Jeff Shuren, an FDA official.
The nasal swab test can be self-administered by anyone over 14 years old or performed by a parent on anyone over 8 years old.
It’s designed for use by patients whose health care providers believe have been infected.
The FDA said it can detect the presence or absence of COVID-19 within the first six days of when the patient experiences symptoms.
It’s the second approval for tests outside of hospitals by Quidel.
The company won approval for their QuickVue SARS Antigen Test which is designed for use in laboratories as well as for point-of-care testing.
Some public health experts are concerned that fewer COVID tests are being administered as infection rates decline after a major holiday surge.
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