New Labcorp At-Home Kit Tests for COVID and Two Other Viruses

Labcorp logo
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Labcorp’s new at-home collection kit is a threefer. It simultaneously tests for COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and the flu, too.

The Burlington-headquartered company said it has received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the combined test. That means that, while the kit has not been FDA approved, it has been authorized under the agency’s EUA for the detection of nucleic acid from COVID-19, influenza A and B, and RSV. It will be available, without a prescription, for individuals who are two years old and older and who are experiencing flu-like symptoms.

Marketed as the Pixel by Labcorp COVID-19+Flu+RSV Test Home Collection Kit, it can be ordered through the company’s Labcorp OnDemand digital health platform. There is no up-front cost for those who meet clinical guidelines and have insurance. Labcorp said the kit is designed for PCR testing – considered the gold standard for diagnosing COVID-19 and its variants.

Mother w sick child
-- Labcorp photo

The test is shipped by FedEx Priority Overnight to patients’ homes. When ordering, users register at the Pixel by Labcorp website. They send collected samples back to the company via a prepaid return envelope. Results are available through individual Labcorp OnDemand accounts, an average of 1-2 days after Labcorop receives a completed collection kit.

COVID-19, the flu and RSV – a common but contagious respiratory virus often seen in children – can have similar symptoms. Labcorp said the test kit can determine which of the three viruses a person may have contracted.

“Labcorp’s COVID-19 tests have been trusted by physicians and millions of people throughout the pandemic,” said Brian Caveney, MD, chief medical officer and president of Labcorp Diagnostics. “With the spike in RSV cases over the last year, the continued presence of COVID-19, and the ever-present threat of flu, testing for all three viruses at once enables individuals and physicians to quickly identify the illness and determine the appropriate treatment.”

Labcorp said those who test positive will receive a call from a third-party physician network with detailed next steps and access to a free consultation with a clinician.

The company’s t Labcorp Oncology group has also announced a new test to help physicians better diagnose various characteristics of melanoma in skin-cancer patients, to improve treatment options.

The company, which provides clinical laboratory and drug development services, is a leader in COVID-19 testing – with more than 74 million performed. It was the first U.S. commercial laboratory to launch COVID-19 testing in 2020, and less than two weeks later became the first to receive Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA. It began offering at-home collection kits for PCR testing in April 2020.

Labcorp employs more than 75,000 people, including close to 10,000 in North Carolina. The company serves clients in more than 100 countries and reported $16 billion in revenue in 2021.

Bryant Haskins, NCBiotech Writer
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