BD, a global medical technology company, has announced that it has begun shipping its BD Veritor At-Home COVID-19 Test. According to the company, this OTC rapid COVID-19 test is the first to use computer vision technology in a smartphone to interpret testing results. 

BD developed this rapid self-test to make COVID-19 testing easier for people to complete at home. The BD Veritor At-Home COVID-19 Test uses the Scanwell Health mobile app to interpret and provide a digital display of testing results in 15 minutes. The test also fully automates the reporting of the results to federal and state public health agencies and provides a streamlined experience for optional reporting to businesses and schools. 

The BD Veritor At-Home COVID-19 Test comes with two tests in each box for a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $39.99. The test is available on Amazon.com for $26.50 through December to U.S. customers, as part of its partnership with the U.S. government. 

The new at-home test can also be used for businesses, enterprises, and schools looking to provide a self-testing method for employees or students.

Solving At-Home Testing Challenges

Conducting COVID-19 testing at home presents several challenges, which can include confusing instructions, confirmation that swabbing was performed, potentially ambiguous interpretation of the results, and difficulty reporting results to public health officials or employers and schools.

According to the company, the BD Veritor At-Home COVID-19 Test, OTC rapid COVID-19 test, addresses these challenges through features including:

  • A definitive “positive” or “negative” digital display of testing results: The smartphone’s camera and app are used to capture, analyze, and interpret the results to eliminate the human subjectivity of a visually read test.
  • A mobile app with step-by-step instructions: A mobile app from Scanwell yields reliable test results in 15 minutes, according to the company. The app is available on iOS and Android and provides step-by-step video instructions on how to collect and transfer the nasal swab sample to the test stick. The app also has built-in timers and alerts to ensure users are waiting the required time periods before proceeding to the next step of testing. The guided app allows users to self-test without having to connect live with a proctor.
  • A nasal swab and human protein detection: A nasal swab provides a pain-free experience. The test stick has a built-in quality check that confirms the application of a human sample. This sample adequacy control will yield an invalid result if no human sample is detected. Internal reagent controls also act to confirm that the sample was appropriately applied to the test stick.
  • Automated reporting: The app automates secure, timely reporting to state and federal public health officials. It also can be configured to automate reporting to businesses or schools. 

The BD Veritor At-Home COVID-19 Test is designed to be performed at home by people 14 years of age or older, using Scanwell’s app to provide digital results in 15 minutes. The test can also be used for children as young as two years old with samples collected by an adult. 

The BD Veritor At-Home COVID-19 Test has not been FDA cleared or approved, but it has been authorized by FDA under Emergency Use Authorization. This product has been authorized only for the detection of proteins from SARS-CoV-2, not for any other viruses or pathogens. The emergency use of this product is only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use of IVDs for detection and/or diagnosis of COVID-19 under Section 564(b)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the declaration is terminated or authorization is revoked sooner.

For more information, visit BD Veritor.

Featured Image: Now available on Amazon.com, the BD Veritor At‑Home COVID‑19 Test enables self-administered COVID-19 testing with digitally displayed, shareable results in 15 minutes. Photo: BD