The at-home rapid COVID-19 test kit is one of the most important health innovations right now. This technology allows people across the globe to check if the deadly novel coronavirus infects them.
Rapid antibody test kits are seen during a mass rapid test for COVID-19 amid the coronavirus pandemic on May 6, 2020 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Indonesia is struggling to contain hundreds of new daily cases of coronavirus, officials have so far confirmed over 12,000 cases of COVID-19 in the country with at least 895 recorded fatalities. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has spread to at least 200 countries and territories around the world, claiming over 250,000 lives and infecting over 3.7 million.
Thanks to this medical innovation, many individuals across the globe no longer need to visit hospitals to take their COVID-19 tests. However, some experts are now concerned because this tech poses some issues, including false-positive COVID-19 results.
This was seen in the products manufactured by Ellume, an Australian company that offers home coronavirus test kits. Because of the false-positive results, which are higher than what the company and other experts have expected, it is left with no choice but to recall around 200,000 of its products.
As of the moment, Ellume's at-home COVID-19 test kits are currently being distributed in the United States. Around 5.6% of its 3.5 million rapids test kits are shipped in the U.S.
At-Home Rapid COVID-19 Test Kits Pulled Out!
According to The New York Times' latest report, the Australian COVID-19 test kit developer already identified the issue way back in mid-September.
An employee holds up an AFIAS Covid-19 Ab testing kit used in diagnosing the coronavirus (COVID-19) at the Boditech Med Inc. headquarters on April 17, 2020 in Chuncheon, South Korea. South Korea has called for expanded public participation in social distancing, as the country witnesses a wave of community spread and imported infections leading to a resurgence in new cases of COVID-19. South Korea's coronavirus cases hovered around 20 for the fourth straight day.
Dr. Sean Parsons, Ellume's chief executive officer, explained during a phone call that they traced some issues in the COVID-19 results offered by their products.
He added that around 427,000 at-home coronavirus test kits suffered from the issue, with some of them being distributed to the U.S. Department of Defense.
In the 42,000 positive results generated by Ellume's at-home rapid COVID-19 test kits, Dr. Parsons confirmed that around a quarter of them are inaccurate.
This is currently a serious issue since government officials require people to have negative results before they can visit other places. On the other hand, if you have tested positive for COVID-19, there's a high chance that you will be forced to quarantine.
Is At-Home COVID-19 Test Kit Effective?
Bio Spectrum Asia reported that COVID-19 test kits serve as a feasible solution for individuals who are far away from an actual coronavirus testing facility.
However, various experts are still debating over the efficiency of this medical innovation against the rising coronavirus. Although this is the case, many countries across the globe are already using at-home rapid COVID-19 test kits.
But, you still need to double-check since many of these medical kits show false results.
For more news updates about COVID-19 test kits and other similar health innovations, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.
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Written by: Griffin Davis
