In response to a mass shortage of available tests, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized a direct-to-consumer test for the coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19.
The test, called Pixel and created by health services giant LabCorp, will be priced at $119 and includes two-way overnight shipping and physician services from PWNHealth.
Tests will be initially made available to health care workers and first responders before others can purchase.
“Our at-home collection kits are designed to make it easier and safer to test health care workers and first responders during this important time,” said Adam Schechter, CEO of LabCorp, in the company’s announcement.
Once the tests become available to regular consumers, you’ll be able to buy the test kit only after a recommendation from your doctor and after answering a questionnaire to determine if you’re eligible to be tested.
If you can take the test, you’ll be sent a test kit to collect your sample via a nasal swab. You’ll then send back your test and access your results online.
Digital Trends reached out to LabCorp to find out how many tests they are making and how quickly people could expect to get their results back after sending samples. We will update this story when we hear back.
It’s important to note that the FDA did not approve the test, but rather, only authorized the test as part of an emergency use authorization given the extreme need for coronavirus testing in the U.S. right now.
“We worked with LabCorp to ensure the data demonstrated from at-home patient sample collection is as safe and accurate as sample collection at a doctor’s office, hospital, or other testing site,” FDA commissioner Stephen M. Hahn said. “With this [authorization], there is now a convenient and reliable option for patient sample collection from the comfort and safety of their home.”
Testing in the U.S. is nowhere near where it needs to be, medical experts say. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates said that getting the U.S. organized on testing will allow us to overcome the rapid spread of the virus until a vaccine can be made.
For the latest updates on the novel coronavirus outbreak, visit the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 page.
The domain of wearable devices has grown by leaps and bounds, not just in terms of mass adoption, but also owing to some astounding innovations. Wearable heart rate sensors can now measure everything from heart rate and blood oxygen levels to ECG in form factors ranging from a watch to finger rings.
These sensors, however, come with an inherent set of problems. Motion artifacts arising from movement or vigorous activity alter the blood flow and affect their accuracy. Optical heart rate sensors (photoplethysmography or PPG tech) also struggle with darker skin tones, tattoos, or even body placement.
There’s grooming, and then there’s grooming with intention. If your current routine feels more like a chore than a ritual, it might be time to rethink your tools. The Chairman™ Pro Package from MANSCAPED® is a full-face grooming system that doesn’t just clean you up—it sharpens your whole look. Right now, it’s available for $169.99 (11% off the usual $189.97), and you can drop that price even further to $159.99 when you subscribe to the Chairman Pro Package + Peak Hygiene plan. Throw in free shipping, and it’s a solid deal on a seriously well-thought-out kit.
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On today’s special edition of You Asked, we tracked down each of our editors and put them on the spot to find out what they thought was the most impressive thing they saw at CES 2025 in Early January. Let’s find out what they had to say.
Panasonic Z95B
There’s been some really cool TV tech at CES, but the thing I’m most excited about is the new Panasonic Z95B. Instead of the regular OLED display structure we’ve seen in recent years with MLA technology, this uses a four-layer panel structure. It features individual red, green, and blue layers (two of the latter) for the emissive light.