Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
FDA Approves Two New Over-The-Counter Covid Tests
NPR: FDA Approves Two More Over The Counter COVID Tests
More consumers will soon be able to test themselves for COVID-19 from the comfort of their own home. On Wednesday, the Food and Drug Administration approved two rapid antigen home tests for use in the U.S. Americans will soon be able to purchase Abbott's BinaxNOW and Quidel Quickvue tests at drug stores. The two options join a test made by Ellume, which received FDA approval in December, in the market. The two, newly-approved swab tests will be sold at a lower price point. (Diaz and Simmons-Duffin, 4/1)
USA Today: 'More Confidence About The Results': FDA Authorizes Two Rapid COVID-19 Tests For Home Screening
The FDA has authorized more than 300 COVID-19 tests and technologies in what's becoming an increasingly crowded field of medical labs and tech firms touting different technologies. The federal agency authorized only two other no-prescription home tests, but companies that make those tests are ramping up production and are not yet available to purchase. Several more tests allow people to collect nasal or saliva samples at home, but people must send samples to a lab, delaying for one to two days. (Alltucker, 4/1)
Modern Healthcare: FDA Posts Info On Impact Of Coronavirus Mutations On Test Effectiveness
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday published information for labs and healthcare providers detailing the impact of SARS-CoV-2 mutations on molecular, antigen and serology tests for the virus. While the agency said that changes in the virus's genome may impact the effectiveness of antigen and serology tests, it noted in particular four molecular tests that received Emergency Use Authorization whose performance it said could be negatively affected by SARS-CoV-2 mutations: Mesa Biotech's Accula SARS-CoV-2 Test; Applied DNA Sciences' Linea COVID-19 Assay Kit; Thermo Fisher Scientific's TaqPath COVID-19 Combo Kit; and Cepheid's Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2, Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 DoD, and Xpert Omni SARS-CoV-2 tests. (3/31)
In other covid testing news —
Hawaii News Now: $30M Worth Of COVID Testing Kits Expire In State Storage Facility
Some $30 million worth of COVID-19 test kits purchased by the state have expired as they sat in storage, despite at least one county request to use them. The state Health Department said it working to get federal approval for an extension to use the 672,000 kits, but that could be a lengthy process. (Kawano, 3/31)
CNET: DoorDash Will Deliver A COVID-19 PCR Test Kit To Your Home. Here's How To Get It
DoorDash, the food delivery service, can now bring a COVID-19 home test to your door in addition to your dinner or groceries, which could make testing more accessible for many. Through a partnership with Vault Health and Everlywell, DoorDash customers can get two virus home collection kits on demand, according to a DoorDash blog post from March 22. (Brown, 3/31)
