I Took The New Lucira Health 30 Minute At Home COVID19 Test, And It Was Heavenly - Review
First off, not a paid post or promotion or anything — and FULCRUM News has been one of the most neutral outlets I can think of when it comes to covering COVID19… we haven’t overwhelmingly challenged establishment thought on COVID, and we haven’t overwhelmingly marched in lockstep with it, either.
Pandemics happen.
The Lucira Health at-home COVID-19 test, offered under a FDA emergency use authorization (EUA) to detect the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. An unfortunately named optional test certificate app — LUCI PASS (conspiracy theorists will think Lucifer Pass, get it?) — was the unit’s only conceivable flaw. Well designed, didn’t break the bank, and provided us with a lot of peace of mind.
We see merit to both sides of the discussion and think ultimately so much of this discussion should hinge on the individual’s own health considerations, and their own risk/reward options when it comes to what they can do to lower the odds of getting harmed by the pandemic.
So it was interesting to come across the new single-use COVID19 rapid test from Lucira Health, which is available on Amazon and on Lucira Health’s official web site. What to know about the test and the process — having now used two of them (each unit is about $50 to $60, and includes everything you need: testing solution, electronic analysis base, 2 AA batteries for powering the ‘base,’ and a disposal bag for when you’re all done):
For the Lucira Health single-use COVID19 test, which is technically not a PCR test but rather advertises itself as roughly as accurate as lab PCR tests, you swab the inside of each nostril rotating 5 times in each one.
Then the swab is placed into a vial of testing solution, you stir it 15 times, and then remove and dispose of the swab. The vial, which is already resting in the electronic analysis base if you’ve followed the included instructions properly, is then closed and you push down fairly firm until the vial clicks into place. At that point, the device starts to blink, indicating analysis of the solution is underway.
In almost precisely 30 minutes, the machine gives you a NEGATIVE or POSITIVE covid19 test result. I’ve now done two tests, and both came back negative. I found the design almost idiot-proof and was impressed by the experience. If the price were about half as much (say, $25 per test instead of $55 to $60), or if the government were willing to subsidize these rapid at-home tests, I think it’d be a game changer for getting the remaining part of the pandemic contained — it’s not over yet, according to data, with more than 600 deaths from COVID19 in the US over the last 24 hours.
If these at-home units, not intrusive and not invasive of your civil rights in any way (you also don’t have to report your test results after using the unit, which is nice) are the new normal, I’m all for it. Better to know your status than to be left wondering “if it’s COVID,” which is nerve wracking to be sure. And maybe I’m just a weirdo, but it seems like going to a poorly ventilated testing center in a public place visited all day by people who think they might be infected is riskier than taking a 30 minute test in the privacy of one’s own home, no blood required either as it’s just a nasal swab. For the approx. $130 total including express shipping, these tests provided FULCRUM with some quick peace of mind.