LENEXA, Kan. — Clinical Reference Laboratory in Lenexa announced that it is now selling its saliva-based COVID-19 RT-PCR test directly to consumers.
It costs $110, including shipping. The company says the test is one of the most affordable COVID-19 home tests currently available in the market and the least expensive at-home saliva test.
“Through our ongoing work with organizations and businesses nationwide, we saw that there was high demand for a reliable, convenient test that can be self-collected at home,” said CEO Robert Thompson. “Individual consumers no longer have to wait in line or make appointments to get an invasive swab test when they can conduct an easier saliva-based one right in their own homes.”
The saliva-based test is for symptomatic individuals or those who believe they may have been exposed.
The test simply requires that the individual’s saliva be deposited in a collection vial provided and sent to the lab using the provided, prepaid one-day shipping package.
Results are typically available within 24 hours of receipt at the lab and can be accessed online through a unique two-factor authentication protected portal—accessible by computer or mobile device.
For those who test positive, Cynergy, a telemedicine provider, will reach out to provide critical next-step information including the option to speak with a licensed physician about their results.
Prior to taking the test, individuals will need to give consent for the telemedicine provider and their local public health departments to receive the test results.
"People can be confident that CRL gets their results right, using highly sensitive and accurate RT-PCR testing from a CLIA and CAP certified laboratory," said Heather Fehling, Ph.D., CRL’s Chief Scientific Officer for Molecular Diagnostics. "In our FDA filing, we were able to demonstrate that CRL Rapid Response™ had the highest sensitivity and specificity. Our test was at least as accurate as nasopharyngeal swabs and far more accurate than the shorter anterior nasal swabs, which are used in most at-home COVID tests."
CRL received FDA approval to develop the test in August. Truman Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri will soon have a state-purchased machine to process saliva-based testing, according to Governor Mike Parson.
