So the FDA just authorized the first Covid-19 testing kit for home use. While it sounds like a fantastic development in theory, what does it mean in practice?Max Nisen: The test, which is made by California-based Lucira Health, is promising for a few reasons.
There are other testing solutions that will send you a swab, but require you to send the sample back to a lab. This test can be done start-to-finish at home.
It's a convenient new option that should be very helpful in certain settings where you need a quick and accurate test or when labs are overwhelmed.
But the broader public health impact may not be enormous. At around $50, it's not cheap enough to provide the broad, repeated testing many public health experts are calling for.