Months after receiving FDA approval, the first homemade over-the-counter coronavirus test will receive $ 231.8 million from the government to boost production and increase distribution. The Ellume COVID-19 home test can be performed in just 15 minutes and involves a nasal swab with results reported through a smartphone app.
“These are self-test kits that can detect COVID with approximately 95% accuracy in 15 minutes,” said Andy Slavitt, senior advisor to the White House COVID-19 response team, at a news conference held on Monday -market. “They can be used if you experience symptoms of COVID-19 and also for screening people without symptoms so that they can safely go to work, school and events.
The test has been approved for use on individuals aged 2 years and over and is less invasive than the traditional nasal swab.
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“Making tests easier to use available to all Americans is a high priority with obvious benefits,” said Slavitt.
Through the additional funding, Slavitt said that Ellume will be able to increase production to 19 million test kits per month by the end of 2021. The financing agreement also secured 8.5 million tests for the US government.
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“The ability to quickly test, track contact and quarantine is the foundation of our national strategy and will be a vital part of containing the virus and preventing the spread of the community,” he said. “In the meantime, and while vaccines are still being released, as Dr. Walensky reminds us repeatedly, wearing a tight-fitting mask is vital. Without masks, the virus and new variants will be very easy to continue growing ”.
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According to a press release published on Monday, the test was developed with support from the National Institutes of Health’s Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics.