The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized late Wednesday the use of new rapid, at-home COVID-19 tests manufactured by two different companies, multiple media outlets reported.
The Quidel QuickVue test, which should be administered twice over three days with 24 to 36 hours between tests, reportedly provides test results in 10 minutes, while the Abbott BinaxNOW test, which should be administered twice over three days with 36 hours between tests, delivers results in roughly 15 minutes, The Hill reported.
“The public can be assured these tests have met our scientific standards for emergency use authorization,” Jeff Shuren, a top FDA official overseeing testing, told the outlet.
The authorizations mean consumers will be able to purchase rapid coronavirus tests at chain pharmacies and grocery stores without a prescription, USA Today reported.
An Abbott spokesperson told The Hill that the company has the ability to make “tens of millions (of tests) per month” and confirmed that shipments to “major food, drug and mass merchandiser retailers” are expected in the coming weeks.
According to USA Today, Abbott will sell the two-test kits to retailers for less than $20, with retailers setting the final cost to consumers.
Meanwhile, Quidel did not immediately offer pricing information for its test kits but did note in a news release that it will announce retail partnerships in the coming weeks and plans to produce more than 50 million QuickVue rapid antigen tests each month at a factory slated to open this year, the outlet reported.
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Cox Media Group
