The combined home collection kit will facilitate the identification of Covid-19 and influenza A/B simultaneously in individuals as young as two years of age
Labcorp has secured FDA EUA for combined Covid-19 and Flu at home collection kit. (Credit: Laboratory Corporation of America® Holdings)
Labcorp has secured an emergency use authorisation (EUA) from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its at-home collection kit for combined Covid-19 and flu detection.
The combined home collection kit is designed for the identification of Covid-19 and influenza A/B simultaneously in individuals as young as two years of age.
Individuals suffering from Covid-19 and flu are said to experience similar symptoms such as fever, runny or stuffy nose and cough.
Labcorp said that its new kit will enable people to test for both flu and Covid-19 in the safety of their homes and eliminate the risk of spreading the virus to others.
A short nasal swab, designed to insert into the lower nostril, is used by the kit to help individuals and parents to collect samples at home.
Adults 18 and over, as well as parents and guardians of children 2-17 years of age can request the new combined collection kit online via Pixel by Labcorp.
Through an electronic medical record system, physicians can order the collection kit for children as young as two years old directly.
Labcorp will provide the test results on average between 1-2 days, upon the company receiving the completed collection kit. Mostly, the results are delivered in one day after the kit is received.
Individuals can access results via the Pixel by Labcorp account. The results from physician-ordered tests are provided through the patient portal and the Labcorp Patient app.
Labcorp Diagnostics chief medical officer and president Dr Brian Caveney said: “Our newest home collection kit makes it convenient for individuals, including children over the age of two, to take the test in the safety of their homes.
“In time for flu season, the single test helps doctors and individuals make more informed treatment decisions given that symptoms of Covid-19 and flu are similar.”
Roche cobas SARS-CoV-2 & influenza A/B test is used by the home collection for use on the cobas 6800/8800 systems.
The cobas SARS-CoV-2 & influenza A/B Test is a multiplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay developed for the simultaneous qualitative detection and differentiation of SARS-CoV-2, influenza A virus, and influenza B virus in nasal or nasopharyngeal swab samples collected from individuals suspected of a respiratory infection.
In May this year, Labcorp agreed to purchase select operating assets and intellectual property (IP) from Myriad Genetics’ autoimmune business unit, including the Vectra rheumatoid arthritis (RA) assay.