Crisp Packages understands the shortcomings of an at-home diagnostic test for SARS-CoV-2 and is, thus, dedicated to addressing the problem of positive SARS-CoV-2 cases that do not get reported to health departments, along with the inadequate access to health care for those that test positive.
Recently, many labs have been struggling to keep up with the plethora of individuals wishing to get tested for SARS-CoV-2. Further, current methods for diagnostic testing require individuals to come into close proximity with others, possibly exposing the virus to a greater amount of people.
Consequently, many biotechnology companies such as Mammoth Biosciences and Sherlock Biosciences have been working on developing diagnostic tests that individuals can take at home. In fact, the FDA has granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to Sherlock Biosciences for use of its for “CRISPR SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Diagnostic,” in which people are able to test themselves and get results at home.
Although at-home testing is a viable solution to reduce the amount of tests that labs have to process, there are potential caveats to this method of testing. When individuals get tested for SARS-CoV-2 in drive-through clinics, these individuals’ results are reported to local or state health departments, which send this information to the CDC. However, as people begin to take diagnostic tests at home, they would have to report their results to health departments, and they might not do so.
This can be dangerous because it’s important that health departments and the CDC have accurate numbers of SARS-CoV-2 cases so that officials can better understand this novel virus.
Currently, the individuals who test positive for SARS-CoV-2 as well as the people who were recently in contact with those who tested positive would be requested, by a healthcare professional, to self-isolate. However, without a physician or healthcare professional to enforce these strict isolation procedures, as would likely be the case with at-home testing, individuals may be less inclined to self-isolate. In addition, as fewer people get tested by an official drive-through clinic, some may find it a challenge to have access to proper healthcare.
Crisp Packages is, therefore, committed to responding to the problem of unreported, positive SARS-CoV-2 cases to health departments, in addition to addressing the related issue that individuals with SARS-CoV-2 may not have adequate access to health care.
Recently, many labs have been struggling to keep up with the plethora of individuals wishing to get tested for SARS-CoV-2. Further, current methods for diagnostic testing require individuals to come into close proximity with others, possibly exposing the virus to a greater amount of people.
Consequently, many biotechnology companies such as Mammoth Biosciences and Sherlock Biosciences have been working on developing diagnostic tests that individuals can take at home. In fact, the FDA has granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to Sherlock Biosciences for use of its for “CRISPR SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Diagnostic,” in which people are able to test themselves and get results at home.
Although at-home testing is a viable solution to reduce the amount of tests that labs have to process, there are potential caveats to this method of testing. When individuals get tested for SARS-CoV-2 in drive-through clinics, these individuals’ results are reported to local or state health departments, which send this information to the CDC. However, as people begin to take diagnostic tests at home, they would have to report their results to health departments, and they might not do so.
This can be dangerous because it’s important that health departments and the CDC have accurate numbers of SARS-CoV-2 cases so that officials can better understand this novel virus.
Currently, the individuals who test positive for SARS-CoV-2 as well as the people who were recently in contact with those who tested positive would be requested, by a healthcare professional, to self-isolate. However, without a physician or healthcare professional to enforce these strict isolation procedures, as would likely be the case with at-home testing, individuals may be less inclined to self-isolate. In addition, as fewer people get tested by an official drive-through clinic, some may find it a challenge to have access to proper healthcare.
Crisp Packages is, therefore, committed to responding to the problem of unreported, positive SARS-CoV-2 cases to health departments, in addition to addressing the related issue that individuals with SARS-CoV-2 may not have adequate access to health care.