KANSAS CITY, Mo. — COVID-19 testing is expanding and becoming more accessible.
LabCorp CEO Adam Schechter announced a big development at Monday's White House coronavirus task force briefing.
"We also have the Pixel by LabCorp at-home test. That test, right now, is for health care workers on the front line and first responders," Schechter said.
The questionairre to acquire an at-home test can be accessed by anyone and does not require a doctor's note, insurance approval, or information to prove that you are indeed working on the front lines.
The survey asks the following questions:
- Are you a health care worker or first responder?
- Do you live in certain restricted states?
- What are your symptoms?
- Have you been exposed?
If you're deemed eligible for testing, a kit is added to your shopping cart with a price tag of $119.
41 Action News reached out to LabCorp about who can get access to the test kits, but did not receive a response.
Proponents say these home kits will make testing more accessible to those who need it, without possibly exposing them to others who may be ill. There are some concerns, specifically about accuracy.
"In any at home testing, there are caveats of the operator. Who’s doing it? Will it give an accurate sample? We need the validation and vetting," said Dr. Dana Hawkinson of the University of Kansas Health Systems.
Hawkinson pointed out another key to moving forward.
"As we are moving towards states reducing stay-at-home orders, it’s going to be vitally important to test people to understand, do you have the acute infection?" Hawkinson added.
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