FDA Authorizes First Home COVID-19 And Flu Test
The FDA has approved an at-home test that can detect the presence of both coronavirus and the flu.
- By Nikki Johnson-Bolden
- Dec 09, 2020
The FDA approved the first diagnostic at-home collection test that will detect both COVID-19 and influenza A and B on December 4.
Quest Diagnostics RC COVID-19 and Flu RT-PCR Test was authorized for prescription use along with the Quest Diagnostics Self-Collection Kit for COVID-19 and Flu. People who may have respiratory viral infections that match the symptoms of coronavirus are candidates for the test.
“With the authorization of this test, the FDA is helping to address the ongoing fight against COVID-19 while in the middle of the flu season, which is important for many, including the most vulnerable Americans,” said FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn, M.D. “This is another example of the FDA working with test developers to bring important diagnostics to Americans.”
Patients who are approved for the test by their health care provider can collect a sample with one swab and send it to a Quest Diagnostics laboratory for analysis to determine if they are positive for coronavirus or the flu.
For more information, visit fda.gov.
About the Author
Nikki Johnson-Bolden is an Associate Content Editor for Occupational Health & Safety.