Tech startups around the world are already competing to deliver regular at-home COVID-19 tests. This was gaining momentum pre-pandemic and is now a red-hot market with more than two dozens companies developing at-home testing kits.
According to AngelList, Lucira Health, is the first company to get the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for a fully at-home test. In addition to this, the startup filed for an IPO last week and expects to deliver its test nationally this spring. However, the test requires a doctor’s prescription and costs $50. Using this testing kit regularly is expensive.
Another tech startup in the market is Ellume, which is the second company to get FDA approval last month. Their test kit is cheaper and easier to manufacture. It is also faster to get test results. At a cost of $30 per test, it is still relatively expensive for regular at-home testing.
Another tech startup is BioIQ Inc, which partnered with Google to offer weekly at-home tests to the company’s employees. Others include AI company Gauss Surgical, Safe Health Systems
The above-mentioned tech startups are just a few of the many already existing. Likewise, rapid at-home COVID-19 testing startups are on their way. In the near future, we will reach a stage where the at-home testings are regularly affordable.
