(Photo: Lapcorp)
Americans are now able to self-test at home to find out whether they have COVID-19, the flu or another common germ, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
The first nonprescription test that can spot all three respiratory viral illnesses was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and will be available at retail stores or online.
“While the FDA has now authorized many COVID-19 tests without a prescription, this is the first test authorized for flu and RSV, along with COVID-19, where an individual can self-identify their need for a test, order it, collect their sample and send it to the lab for testing, without consulting a health care professional,” Dr. Jeff Shuren said in an FDA news release. He directs the agency’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health.
With the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test from North Carolina-based Labcorp, users collect their own nasal swab sample at home and then ship it to one of the company’s labs to be analyzed. The typical turnaround time for results is one to two days after the sample arrives at the lab, according to Labcorp, NBC News reported.
Other tests to detect multiple respiratory viruses typically require people to see a health care provider, who collects the nasal swab sample and ships it to a lab for analysis.
The Labcorp test kit costs $169, company spokesperson Chris Allman told NBC News.
That price isn’t surprising since people are getting three tests in one, said Jennifer Smith, an epidemiologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Gillings School of Global Public Health.
She told NBC News that the new test is likely to increase access to testing, particularly for people who may not be able to go into a clinic to get a test or for those don’t feel comfortable getting tested.
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Your test results will detect whether you are infected with SARS-CoV-2, Influenza A, Influenza B and/or RSV. If your results are positive for one of more of the viruses, you should limit your exposure to other people and continue to monitor your symptoms.
If your results are negative, the viruses were not detected in the sample you provided. However, this doesn’t mean you are in the clear. Viruses may not be detected by the test in the early stages of infection. Additionally, if you don’t collect the sample as directed, the viruses may not be detected.
(Photo: Lapcorp)
After you receive your results, you will have the opportunity to speak with a licensed healthcare provider who can answer any questions you may have about your test results and help determine the next steps in your care.
Have reason to believe you have been exposed? Follow up with a healthcare provider for further evaluation, get re-tested, and follow isolation or quarantine precautions as recommended.
RELATED: RSV in Adults: Are You At Risk?
COVID, flu and RSV cause tens of thousands of deaths a year and some adults may have more severe symptoms consistent with a lower respiratory tract infection. These adults include:
That is why a test that detects all three is “sort of the Holy Grail,” according to Dr. Michael Mina, a former Harvard epidemiologist.
If you feel like you are having a medical emergency, please call 9-1-1.
If you are experiencing severe trouble breathing; continuous pain or pressure in your chest or abdomen; feeling confused; having difficulty waking up or staying awake; pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds; seizures; being unable to urinate; severe muscle pain or weakness; fever or cough that improves but then returns or worsens; worsening of medical conditions; or any other emergency signs or symptoms, you should seek immediate medical care.
If your condition changes before you are able to obtain the test or the test result, please visit your local emergency room as soon as possible.
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