BD has commenced shipping of the first over-the-counter (OTC) Covid-19 rapid antigen self-test to leverage computer vision technology in a smartphone to decipher results. The BD Veritor At-Home COVID-19 Test is designed to offer quick and simple Covid-19 testing for users in the at-home setting, using the Scanwell Health app to interpret and deliver a digital display of results in just 15 minutes.
Lucira Health has announced that its self-administered at-home molecular diagnostic test to detect Covid-19 is available for online purchase. The LUCIRA CHECK IT COVID-19 Test Kit has obtained Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for OTC usage. It can offer a positive result in just 11 minutes and a negative result in 30 minutes, demonstrating accuracy of 98% in clinical trials.
Researchers at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital have found genetic biomarkers that can both detect Covid-19 infection and predict the severity of the disease. According to the study, certain signals from DNA methylation differ between Covid-19 infected and uninfected individuals, which could potentially signify severity even in the initial stages of the infection.