Cheap, rapid at-home testing for Covid-19 could take weeks or even months, experts say
If antigen tests meet the bar for accuracy, doctors envision a future where Americans self-administer tests to get a quick yes or no on whether to go back to work or return to school. Those results could also be wirelessly communicated to public health departments for the purposes of surveillance. At-home testing is so important, they say, because relying on doctors or other medical professionals would create delays and sap limited supplies of protective personal equipment.
Dr. Walt says that there might be a path to bring these tests to market faster, but it would require a coordinated national strategy and "some sort of rigorous validation with a dedicated testing facility." Otherwise, he expects, it could take "four to six months" for these kinds of tests to get a green light.But there are still many unknowns when it comes to the reliability of these tests. Antigen tests are known to work better with a bacterial disease, such as strep.
That could be coming sooner rather than later. "There are at least two home tests that are going through emergency use approval right now, but my strong sense is that if they get approved, it'll be for point-of-care use," said Michael Pellini, an investor with Section 32 and a longtime diagnostics executive. Pellini could not disclose the names of the test makers until the details were made public.
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