At-Home COVID-19 and Flu Test Approved

Flu season is here and many are worried — with good reason. The US will need to continue taking steps to deal with the flu season while the COVID-19 pandemic rages on. One of those steps is a new test for COVID-19 and the flu.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an at-home test that can detect both COVID-19 and the flu.

This new test is found under the name Quest Diagnostics RC COVID-19 +Flu RT-PCR Test. It is to be used with its associated self-collection kit.

The test can look for multiple respiratory diseases — in this case, COVID-19 and the seasonal flu — from one sample.

According to the FDA, such a combo test is more important now than ever. This is because COVID-19 and the seasonal flu have similar symptoms, making it more difficult to determine which illness the patient truly has.

Plus, this combination test helps to preserve critical testing resources as we continue to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic and flu season.

Only available with a prescription, this test is approved for those who:

• Are suspected to have a respiratory viral infection that is related to COVID-19
• Have gotten approval from a health care provider to collect a sample at home

To complete the test, the person will collect the sample at home using the provided instructions and send it in to a Quest Diagnostics lab for testing.

"With the authorization of this test, the FDA is helping to address the ongoing fight against COVID-19 while in the middle of the flu season, which is important for many, including the most vulnerable of Americans ..." said FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen M. Hahn in a press release. “With just one swab or sample, combination tests that are authorized for use with home-collected samples can be used to get answers to Americans faster, in the comfort and relative safety of their home, which allows patients to continue to quarantine while awaiting results. This efficiency can go a long way to providing timely information for those sick with an unknown respiratory ailment."

If you are concerned about COVID-19 or the flu, speak with your health care provider.