CVS Pharmacy has begun stocking its virtual and in-store shelves nationwide with rapid tests for COVID-19—which can be purchased without a prescription and used by anyone regardless of whether or not they are showing symptoms—including three FDA-authorized diagnostics and sample collection kits produced by LabCorp, Ellume and Abbott.
Ellume was one of the first companies to receive an agency green light for a fully at-home swab test, which pairs with a smartphone and can deliver a result in less than 20 minutes. Available for $38.99, the Fierce 15 winner’s antigen diagnostic will first be available in CVS’ Massachusetts and Rhode Island stores, before rolling out to most pharmacy locations by the end of next month, according to the company.
Meanwhile, the Pixel home collection kit developed by LabCorp supports PCR-based molecular testing, with samples mailed to a laboratory for processing and results turned around in one to two days. Currently priced at about $120, the kit is also carried by Walgreens and other retailers.
And after spending months churning out tens of millions of its card-sized coronavirus antigen tests, Abbott said it has begun shipping BinaxNOW screeners nationwide. Both CVS and Walgreens, as well as Walmart, will carry the diagnostic, sold in two-test packs for $23.99.
Doctors Say Clot Treatment Advice Key to U.S. Resuming J&J COVID Vaccines
Resuming the use of Johnson & Johnson’s (JNJ.N) COVID-19 vaccine in the United States will require clear guidelines for the medical community on how to best treat patients that develop a rare type of blood clot, as well as alerting vaccine recipients to be aware of the telltale symptoms, according to heart doctors and other medical experts.
U.S. health regulators recommended last week that use of the J&J vaccine be paused after six cases of rare brain blood clots, accompanied by low platelet levels, were reported in women following vaccination, out of some 7 million people who have received the shot in the United States. A panel of expert advisors to U.S. health agencies will meet later this week to determine whether the pause should continue, with a decision expected as early as Friday.
“My estimate is that we will continue to use it in some form,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief medical advisor to President Joe Biden, said Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “I do think that there will likely be some sort of warning or restriction or risk assessment.”