An at-home rapid COVID test is a diagnostic test kit that allows individuals to test for COVID-19 from the comfort of their own homes. These tests are typically lateral flow immunoassays, which means they detect the presence of viral antigens in a sample collected from the nose or mouth. One example of an at-home rapid COVID test is the Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 Antigen Self Test, which provides results in as little as 15 minutes.
At-home rapid COVID tests have become increasingly important as the pandemic has continued, as they offer a convenient and accessible way to test for the virus. They are particularly beneficial for people who may not have easy access to traditional testing sites or who may prefer to avoid potential exposure to the virus in public settings. One key historical development in the development of at-home rapid COVID tests was the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) granted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December 2020, which allowed these tests to be sold and used in the United States.
