The home Covid-19 test is an essentially standalone chemical method, however, an enterprising company with an intellectual marketing team has found a way to involve an iPhone in the test.
Kroger Heath has announced plans to provide the first smartphone-enabled, at-home Gauss Covid-19 Rapid Antigen Test Kit to patients globally, extending the company’s existing portfolio of “in-clinic and employer-focused” Covid-19 testing solutions.
Kroger Health finds a creative way to use an iPhone in a home Covid-19 test kit
The new at-home testing solution, currently awaiting authorization from FDA, would offer affordable access to cutting-edge testing technology developed by Gauss, a leader in computer vision-aided healthcare diagnosis. Once the solution has been authorized, it will mark as the first rapid Covid-19 test that can be performed via a smartphone and a lateral flow assay (similar to an at-home pregnancy test.)
Taking this test will eliminate the need for a laboratory, a telemedicine visit, or any other specialized electronics. Gauss produced its first 1.5 million tests last month, which will be available for immediate distribution as soon as the test receives the go-ahead from the FDA. The company has the ability to generate approximately 30 million tests per month.
As for the lateral flow assay, there are two labels next to the test-strip: C and T. The T stand for Test, meaning no line next to that at the end of the waiting period is a negative test, but a line means a positive test. The C stands for Control, and the line next to it should appear always, or else the test is not valid. Kroger thinks that an AI camera would assist in the process:
To use the test, patients follow simple step-by-step video instructions in an app to properly collect the nasal swab and complete the rapid antigen test. After 15 minutes, the app prompts the patient to scan their rapid test. The app uses patent-pending, artificial-intelligence-based technology to provide patients with their results in seconds, helping minimize reader variability. To fulfill legal reporting requirements, the consumer-friendly app seamlessly also shares the reliable, secure and HIPAA-compliant results with appropriate public health agencies.
How to take the home COVID-19 test
- Take a swab from the inside of your upper nasal tract and a swab from the back of your throat.
- Place the swap into a vial of liquid.
- Drop some of the liquid onto a unit of lateral flow assay.
- Wait 20-30 minutes for one or two lines to arrive.
The president of Kroger Health, Collen Lindholz said: “Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Kroger Health has remained committed to helping people live healthier lives by offering a variety of Covid-19 testing solutions supported by our multi-disciplinary team of licensed, trained, and experienced healthcare providers.” She further stated, “We’re proud to partner with Gauss to expand our COVIDCare+ suite with the forthcoming launch of this affordable, innovative solution.”
The test developed by Gauss and Cellex Inc., a biotech company specializing in rapid diagnostics, is powered by an encrypted HIPAA-compliant, an easy-to-use smartphone app developed by Gauss’s team of technology and clinical leaders. The camera gets an image of the test strip and the app tells you whether or not there is a line next to the T. Kroger Health has 2,200 pharmacies across the U.S., and the company is now waiting for FDA approval, then the solutions will be sold at the pharmacies, and online.
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