FDA approves first at-home COVID-19 test kit

For the first time - a COVID-19 self-testing kit you can use at-home has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Lucira Health’s single-use test kit is good for people over 14 years old and will use a self-collected nasal swab. Results are shown within 30 minutes.

The test kit will cost around $50, according to the California-based company, and is expected to be available nationally through health care providers by early spring 2021.

Although a recent string of positive news from Moderna and Pfizer on potential vaccines has raised hopes of combating COVID-19, testing still is a key factor in controlling the spread of new cases, which have soared across the U.S. this fall.

Fully self-administered test kits could prove to save people time and energy waiting in line for a test and then waiting days for results.

The FDA says it looked forward to working with developers for more at-home test options.