A rapid flu testing kit isn’t usually at the top of everyone’s shopping list during Amazon Prime Day, but with the flu season creeping in, maybe it should be. During the sales event, the WELLlife COVID-19/Influenza A&B Home Test kit is on sale for $22.98.
The WELLlife flu and COVID test kit belongs to a group of at-home, over-the-counter tests authorized under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Emergency Use Authorization. The testing process is identical to the nasal swab antigen tests that were ubiquitous during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, except it can now also detect Influenza A and B.
The addition of flu detection alongside COVID aims to increase testing accessibility and convenience. Before these tests were available, flu testing was exclusively performed at clinics by healthcare providers. Now, with the widely available at-home test kits, people experiencing symptoms can avoid waiting for appointments and visiting public places for a flu diagnosis, which is especially important for vulnerable populations such as young children and the elderly. Furthermore, because they don’t need a prescription and are available over the counter, they can be readily purchased anywhere, including online retail channels.
Several brands of combinatorial antigen tests are available, such as WELLlife, CorDx and iHealth. They marginally differ in detection accuracy, detection speed, and design. The WELLlife kit, for example, can produce a result in 10 minutes, whereas a few others take 15. It also has a wider detection window of 5 days since symptom onset, rather than the 4 days of other kits. Additionally, it has a large, highly visible results window that makes viewing easy.
The WELLlife at-home flu and COVID rapid test kit (officially called the WELLlife COVID-19/Influenza A&B Home Test) comes in kit sizes between one and 25. Between Oct. 8 and Oct. 9, the two-count box is on sale for $22.98 on Amazon.
