Ex-Google, Meta Executives' Home Covid Test Kits Give Results In 1 Hour

A new medical startup led by a former Google and Meta executive is rolling out home testing kits for Covid-19. Called "Detect", the startup began selling molecular Covid-19 tests on its website last week.

At the same time, Hugo Barra, a former executive at Google and Meta was revealed as Detect's new CEO. At the tech biggies, Barra reportedly worked on hardware products like virtual reality and smartphone device, The Verge reported.

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Results delivered in an hour

According to Detect's website, the test delivers "PCR-quality results in 1 hour" and the tests are deliverable in India as well, Indiatimes verified.

As the Omicron wave gathers pace around the world, the days of regular testing are back. On its website, Detect says that the test works following five simple steps - collecting the sample, preparing it, mixing it with Detect's "proprietary reagent bead", processing the sample using Detect Hub, followed by results in 10 minutes.

Also read: US Army's Single Covid-19 Vaccine Works On All Variants: How's It Different?

With a whopping accuracy of 97.3 per cent, Detect's at-home testing kits are "comparable to PCR tests." Positive samples were identified by Detect 90.9 per cent of times during clinical studies.

In just an hour, your results will be ready to see using Detect's testing kits. The basic testing and detection kit costs $88 (?6,627).

Representative Image: Unsplash

Why Barra left Google, Meta

The testing kits are more robust than antigen tests that sometimes throw out false results.

In conversation with The Verge, Barra of Google and Meta said that he left Zuckerberg's company in May to use "his experiences in electronics and tech products and applying them to consumer-focused health technology."

Detect

Also read: New RNA-Based Breath Test Can Detect Covid-19 Particles In Seconds

What do you think about at-home testing? Should it be mainstreamed owing to the incoming wave of Omicron infections? Share your thoughts with us below. For more in the world of tech and science, keep reading Indiatimes.com.

Citation

Wetsman, N. (2021b, December 22). Former Google and Meta executive launches at-home COVID-19 test. The Verge.