FDA: You Can Now Test for COVID, Flu, and RSV at Home

Key TakeawaysA new test you take at home and mail to a lab can let you and your doctor know if you have COVID-19, the flu, or RSV.This combination test can help people get the appropriate treatment faster.Experts say that while the test is helpful, even faster results are important.

Key Takeaways

A new test you take at home and mail to a lab can let you and your doctor know if you have COVID-19, the flu, or RSV.This combination test can help people get the appropriate treatment faster.Experts say that while the test is helpful, even faster results are important.

A single nasal swab can now be used to detectCOVID-19,flu, andrespiratory syncytial virus(RSV). And you can administer the test yourself at home.

“While the FDA has now authorized many COVID-19 tests without a prescription, this is the first test authorized for flu and RSV, along with COVID-19, where an individual can self-identify their need for a test, order it, collect their sample and send it to the lab for testing, without consulting a health care professional,” Jeff Shuren, MD, JD, director of FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health, said in a statement.

The authorization comes as COVID-19 cases are on the rise in many parts of the country.While flu season usually tapers off in May, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reported an uptick in cases.

RSV can circulate any time of the year.

Why the Test Matters

The three viruses can have similar symptoms, including fever, cough, and congestion. It’s possible for people to clear any of the viruses on their own. But if treatment is needed, each illness requires a different approach. That’s why knowing which one you have matters.

“Medication, if needed, is different for all three viruses, so being able to differentiate is important,”Michael Daignault, MD, an emergency room physician in Los Angeles and chief medical advisor for COVID-19 testing company Reliant Health Services, told Verywell.

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How the Test Works

The Labcorp test is apolymerase chain reaction(PCR) test. This means it’s analyzed using a laboratory technique that looks for the genetic material in a sample.

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Once you order the test, it will arrive via FedEx the next day. After collecting a sample, you mail it back in prepaid envelope to Labcorp for analysis. Results are displayed in an online portal a day or two after the company receives the swab.

Leana Wen, MD, MPH, an emergency physician and professor of health management and policy at George Washington University in Washington, DC, told Verywell the test is a step in the right direction, but results will need to get faster.

“Having a single test—rather than three separate tests—for COVID-19, flu, and RSV will help, but ideally, the result will come back within minutes, rather than waiting a day or two,” she said.

Who Is the Test For?

Labcorp’s test is authorized for people aged 2 and older.

Plus, during COVID surges, both testing centers and urgent care clinics tend to book up.

“Even a home test that has to be mailed back might be faster if there’s another surge of cases,” Daignault said.

If have have difficulty breathing, do not wait to take a test or for test results. Call a doctor or 911.

The test costs $169 but is expected to be free for people who provide their health insurance information when submitting the test, according to Labcorp.

If you test positive, expect a call from a doctor unaffiliated with the company on next steps, such as quarantining and possible medication.

What This Means For YouCOVID-19, flu, and RSV are viruses that can have similar symptoms. Taking a test to learn which virus you have can help determine what sort of treatment you might need. Plus, because the new test is a PCR test, positive results will be reported to a public health department. This helps surveillance teams more accurately monitor viruses in the United States.

What This Means For You

COVID-19, flu, and RSV are viruses that can have similar symptoms. Taking a test to learn which virus you have can help determine what sort of treatment you might need. Plus, because the new test is a PCR test, positive results will be reported to a public health department. This helps surveillance teams more accurately monitor viruses in the United States.

3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID data tracker weekly review. Interpretive summary for May 20, 2022. It’s time for a boost.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Weekly U.S. influenza surveillance report.UMass Chan Medical School.What’s the difference between a PCR and antigen COVID-19 test? A molecular biologist explains.

3 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID data tracker weekly review. Interpretive summary for May 20, 2022. It’s time for a boost.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Weekly U.S. influenza surveillance report.UMass Chan Medical School.What’s the difference between a PCR and antigen COVID-19 test? A molecular biologist explains.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID data tracker weekly review. Interpretive summary for May 20, 2022. It’s time for a boost.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Weekly U.S. influenza surveillance report.UMass Chan Medical School.What’s the difference between a PCR and antigen COVID-19 test? A molecular biologist explains.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID data tracker weekly review. Interpretive summary for May 20, 2022. It’s time for a boost.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Weekly U.S. influenza surveillance report.

UMass Chan Medical School.What’s the difference between a PCR and antigen COVID-19 test? A molecular biologist explains.

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