Amazon has launched an at-home COVID-19 test kit for U.S. customers, the company announced Tuesday.
Customers receive the nasal-swab kit via Amazon Prime delivery, at no extra cost, and send it via pre-paid next-day delivery to Amazon’s diagnostic laboratory in Kentucky, with results expected within 24 hours, according to a company statement.
The collection kit is now available to U.S. customers on Amazon.com for $39.99 and does not require a prescription. It is authorized for use by individuals 18 years or older, with or without COVID-19 symptoms.
The collection kit includes Amazon Prime delivery at no additional cost. It’s also easy to use and requires a quick sample collection using a gentle, lower nasal swab. The process, including test registration and collection, takes less than 20 minutes to complete.
Customers will receive test results within 24 hours of their sample arriving at the lab, and results are available through Amazon’s secure website AmazonDx.com.
“We’ve invested billions in that effort, including building an in-house COVID-19 testing program to ensure front-line employees have access to free, regular testing with state-of-the-art diagnostic laboratories in the U.S. and the UK, “ Amazon said.
Amazon said that its labs have processed millions of tests from over 750,000 of its front-line employees, making Amazon a leader in employer-driven COVID-19 testing and learned through that process, and extend this reliable and convenient COVID-19 testing service to its customers through Amazon.com.
The Amazon COVID-19 Test Collection Kit DTC has received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Customers can use the test collection kit at home, and the kits are processed by Amazon’s in-house laboratory using a sensitive method known as RT-PCR, which is considered the current “gold standard” diagnostic approach by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Amazon said.
Amazon said that the product has not been FDA cleared or approved, but has been authorized for emergency use by FDA under an EUA. This product has been authorized only for the detection of nucleic acid from SARS-CoV-2, not for any other viruses or pathogens.
.
A global media for the latest news, entertainment, music fashion, and more.
