WLVT - TV - A Bethlehem-based biotech firm is joining the global fight against the novel coronavirus.
OraSure is developing an at-home antigen test for COVID-19. The test will be designed for use by individuals.
Stephen Tang, CEO of OraSure, says the test will show if someone has contracted COVID-19 even if they're not symptomatic.
"The individual can actually swab their own gums and then develop the test at home and know in about 20 minutes whether they are positive for the antigen," said Tang. "That's important because the antigen test would indicate that you are infectious."
Once approved, the test could be shipped directly to homes, eliminating unnecessary trips to hospitals or testing facilities and easing the burden on labs. The test can also be used in medical settings.
Tang says he hopes to get the test to market before the fall.