UnitedHealth begins rollout of coronavirus self-swab testing in hard-hit Seattle

UnitedHealth released details of its 500-patient study that found self-swab tests to be as accurate as physician-administered tests on Wednesday.

"We know that broad, rapid and accurate testing is essential to addressing the COVID-19 crisis, yet the current clinician-administered process significantly limits testing capacity, puts frontline health care workers at risk of COVID-19 exposure, and is unpleasant for patients," lead researcher Dr. Yuan-Po Tu said.

The findings prompted the Food and Drug Administration to update its guidance on self-collection earlier this week.

"Based on available data, FDA believes that, for symptomatic patients, nasal swabs could be used that access just the front of the nose rather than the depth of the nasal cavity," the FDA wrote on its website.

https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/coronavirus-self-swab-test-unitedhealth