- Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST) is now selling at-home COVID-19 tests. These are the details.
Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST) is now selling at-home COVID-19 tests, which uses saliva samples and buyers can mail it to test centers for $129.99. And for an extra $10, you can receive the same kit with assistance. And the saliva PCR tests are administered by telemedicine company AZOVA.
With the $129.99 test kit, customers get the results back in 24-72 hours after the lab receives the kit. And for the $139.99 version, the results are sent back in about 24-48 hours.
The tests being sold at Costco may be preferred by customers who want to avoid inserting swabs into their noses for the samples. The COVID-19 saliva PCR test kit was made by P23. And the description of the product says that the tests are 98% sensitive and 99% specific.
A PCR test is a type of molecular diagnostic test that is generally performed in a high complexity laboratory on special machines that are designed for detecting the presence of viral RNA particles. And if the particles are detected, the test is considered positive.
The COVID-19 test sold at Costco is Emergency Use Act-Authorized by the FDA. And the product page features a video showing how to take the saliva test.
After the test is purchased, the customer has to fill out a health assessment and register for a lab order though AZOVA. This service is currently not available in Nevada, Maryland, or Pennsylvania.
