Innovative At-Home Rapid Test for COVID-19 Launches

New Jersey-based Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD), and Scanwell Health, a leader in smartphone-enabled at-home medical tests, announced on February 22, 2021, a collaboration to create an at-home rapid test to detect the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus using a BD antigen test and the Scanwell Health mobile app.

"Testing at home before going out into the public is a critical safeguard to help stop the spread of COVID-19," said Dave Hickey, president of Life Sciences for BD. "BD and Scanwell Health are bringing the best of our innovations together to develop a reliable test with a convenient and simple user experience."

"We see the development of an at-home lateral flow rapid antigen test as a complementary solution to our best-in-class BD Veritor™ system."

As of February 19, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had authorized 331 coronavirus diagnostic tests, including 247 molecular tests, 70 antibody tests, and 14 antigen tests during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, 35 molecular authorizations can be used with home-collected samples.

Furthermore, data from the U.S. CDC indicates of 332 million coronavirus tests have been completed.

BD is one of the largest global medical technology companies globally and is advancing the world of health by improving medical discovery, diagnostics, and the delivery of care.