Rapid COVID-19 tests now available for at-home use
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
COVID-19 tests are now available for use at home and it takes 15 minutes to produce results, according to test maker Abbott.
The tests were shipped out to pharmacies this week after FDA gave the test emergency use authorization. No prescription is needed for the test or to have the test processed in a lab.
The BinaxNOW tests require a nasal swab and are the same tests that have been used by "healthcare professionals nationwide since August 2020," according to test-maker Abbott. The kit comes with two COVID-19 tests that require the user to self-test two times within three days. Abbott says the individual should wait 36 hours between COVID-19 tests and should use both tests to ensure accurate results.
A positive result of COVID-19 displays two pink lines on the testing card across from the "control" and "sample" tabs. A negative result shows one pink line next to the "control" tab.
According to a clinical study from Abbott, the BinaxNOW test was compared to an FDA-authorized high-sensitivity test. The BinaxNOW test correctly identified 84.6% of positive specimens and 98.5% of negative specimens in the study.
The BinaxNOW tests are available at CVS, Walgreens and Walmart. The tests range in price from $19-$24
Currently the BinaxNOW tests are available at the Walmart stores in the area including:
- 415 Conley Road, Columbia
- 3001 W. Broadway, Columbia
- 1201 Grindstone Parkway, Columbia
- 2150 Main St., Boonville
- 1701 N Bluff St., Fulton
The tests are currently out of stock at the CVS at 1400 Forum Blvd. in Columbia and the 600 Court St. location in Fulton. The tests are not sold at Walgreens locations within 25 miles of the Columbia area, according to the pharmacy's website.
According to the FDA, the BinaxNOW COVID-19 antigen test doesn't differentiate between SARS-CoV -- the virus that causes SARS -- and the SARSCoV-2 strain, which is the novel coronavirus. The FDA says people who test negative and continue to experience COVID-like symptoms should follow up with their health care provider.
