Newly Approved Home COVID-19 Tests Not Reliable
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By Sally Barrilla
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved COVID-19 home tests on April 23 to ensure accurate and reliable sampling for people staying at home. But despite this legal authorization, several essential employees have mixed feelings about these home tests.
“These tests can easily lead to false negatives if not done correctly,” said Postpartum and Bronxcare Health System nurse, Ismarie Badillo. She believes the test will impact the number of people going to hospitals but does not think the test will provide much aid for anyone and says the home tests are a bad idea.
“Saliva test kits are fairly new and had emergency approval by the FDA,” she said. “However, most facilities are not using this form of testing because there is a lot of question about whether or not it is truly reliable.”
Other New York City nurses and lab technicians had mixed opinions about how successful the home tests will be in contrast to those done in hospitals.
“I am unsure of the validity of the test, but I believe it will influence hospital outcomes,” said Eliammy Tapia, an AmeriCare geriatrics home care and visiting nurse. “I think if people are properly taught how to perform the at-home test and patients follow through with all rules and regulations…it’ll decrease the exposure of the virus to both patients and medical staff [at hospitals], decrease chances of spreading, and in effect, decrease the number of hospital admissions.”
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Tapia continued, “Patients should be a high priority, and we should do the best we can to try and keep them safe at home and reduce exposure as they are more prone to end up hospitalized.”
NYC Health reported a total of 3143.63 positive cases in the Bronx, with an estimated contagion rate of 813.75 in hospitalizations and 247.39 in deaths per 100,000 people as of May 30, 2020.
According to the FDA, the COVID-19 home tests have now been officially authorized for use through one source, EverlyWell. However, kits and similar tests are available through prescriptions.
The test kit costs an estimated $109 and includes a Q-tip swab, saliva collection tube, and FedEx return label in a prepaid shipping envelope. The tests are limited to one per household and results will be available within 3-5 days, according to EverlyWell, the only home health testing company that now allows the COVID-19 home test to be shipped through its website.
FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn announced on the organization’s website that the authorization of home tests means that “there is now a convenient and reliable option for a patient sample collection from the comfort and safety of their home.”
However, some Lehman students also questioned the benefits of the home tests.
A Lehman student who tested positive for COVID-19 and asked to remain anonymous said, “The COVID-19 home tests may take longer than hospital tests. I don’t think the number of people going will lessen.”
Thomas McMahon-Owens, a senior majoring in accounting with a minor in professional communications said, “I believe that the COVID-19 home test kits will not reduce the influx of people going to hospitals. The main issue is the supply of test kits to individuals who may not be infected at the moment, but will possibly become so as lockdowns across states are lifted.”
