Associate Professor of Public Policy, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
The new rapid test is available without a prescription, but only 20 million are set to be sold by the middle of next year. Ellume/AP

FDA authorized first over-the-counter COVID-19 test – useful but not a game changer

A new over-the-counter COVID-19 test has been authorized by the FDA. Though it can be used to test people with and without symptoms, moderate cost and limited production mean it isn’t a game-changer.
Easy, fast coronavirus testing is critical to controlling the virus. AP Photo/Elaine Thompson

Will the new 15-minute COVID-19 test solve US testing problems?

The new BinaxNOW antigen test is quick, easy, accurate and cheap. It could solve the US testing problem, but the emergency use authorization only allows people with COVID-19 symptoms to get tested.
Ls programas de salud pública deben detectar más casos de COVID-19 y detectarlos antes de que se propaguen. Vaidas Bucys/EyeEm via Getty Images

Las pruebas de detección rápida del COVID-19 pueden ayudar a frenar la pandemia

Si bien las pruebas de detección no son tan precisas como las pruebas de diagnóstico, son prometedoras porque son económicas, rápidas, fáciles de producir y no requieren procesamiento de laboratorio.