A few weeks ago, we reported on Bill Gates’ initiative to provide at-home COVID-19 tests to Seattle residents. According to a recent article from The Hill, the FDA has halted the testing program pending reviews. The program, known as The Seattle Coronavirus Assessment Network (SCAN), sends test kits to both healthy and sick people in an attempt to bring the country to the level of testing necessary for states to begin reopening.
SCAN’s website maintained that their procedures are safe and accurate, but that the FDA has asked them to stop testing while they receive additional authorizations. The FDA clarified its guidance for home-based self-collected samples for coronavirus, and now a separate federal emergency use authorization is required to return results for them. “We are actively working to address their questions and resume testing as soon as possible,” SCAN said.
