Home COVID-19 tests to become available in pharmacies within ‘days’

Some 500,000 pregnancy-style tests will be distributed across Spanish pharmacies, to allow home COVID-19 testing.

A new self-diagnosis test for COVID-19 will soon be available in Spanish pharmacies.

The pregnancy-style tests will check for antibodies to the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

It will be available in the next few days, reports Valencian daily Las Provincias.

In fact, it is the Valencian company ELIX Pharma who will become the first company in the EU to sell the ‘autodiagnosis test’ – its distribution was approved this week by the Agencia Española del Medicamento.

ELIX Pharma plans to roll out 500,000 tests over the next three months.

As the tests check for antibodies, testing positive does not mean a person is currently COVID-19 positive.

ELIX Pharma’s webpage says a prescription is needed, and so it is not yet clear if anyone can walk into a pharmacy and buy one.

The company’s webpage reads: “This is the first test that can be marketed in pharmacies in Spain – although you will need a prescription, you’ll be able to take the test at home.

“The test detects the presence of IgG and IgM antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in our blood in just 15-20 minutes.

“To do this, you only need a sample of blood or plasma, that can be extracted in a simple way, providing efficient diagnosis and more accurate for patients with suspected infection CoV-2019.”

The instructions for use read:

1) The sample is a drop of blood or plasma taken with the sterile lancet contained in the box.

2) Obtain a large drop of blood by massaging the finger and pick it up with the plastic pipette.

3) Put the drop of blood at the point indicated on the device.

4) Add the diluent, wait 15-20 minutes and read the result.