We’re a company that prides itself on providing high quality scientific data that can help individuals and families make the best decisions for their health. While that mission has never previously led us to test anything other than your genes, we've all now found ourselves in a global health crisis that calls for unprecedented changes and commitments. That’s why we’re pivoting to offer at-home coronavirus tests.
Our COVID-19 test has received Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA and follows the latest guidelines from the CDC.
Like our other tests, our COVID-19 test can be ordered and completed from home. Physician oversight and involvement is also included as usual: you’ll have an opportunity to talk through your results with a certified third-party provider.
Unlike our other tests, we’re looking for genetic indicators for SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) instead of at your genes, and we’re speeding up our test turnaround time so that you’ll get your results as rapidly as possible.
Developing this test has been a journey for us. It hasn’t been easy, but we believe it will be worth it. We aim to bring a level of confirmation or comfort to those who take the test, and we hope to contribute to the bigger picture with much-needed data and test availability.
You can learn more about this test at www.PictureGenetics.com/COVID19. We’ve also covered some important topics below.
Pricing: Picture’s COVID-19 tests cost $119. This captures the cost of the test kit’s components, the staffing and operational costs of running the test in our lab, express shipping costs, and the clinician oversight costs for PWNHealth. We aim to make all our tests as accessible as possible, and the current pricing reflects that value to the best of our ability.
Process: This test works a lot like a regular Picture Genetics test – you order from home, then an independent physician from PWNHealth will evaluate and, if appropriate, authorize your testing.
You’ll receive your kit in the mail within 1-2 days, collect your sample using a safe and simple collection method, and send your kit back to us (asap!). Your report will be delivered online after we analyze your sample, within 24-48 hours.
Instead of examining your DNA, as with other Picture tests, we’re looking for genetic signatures of the coronavirus (which may be found in your cells). Results will indicate whether your sample tested positive or negative for SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19). This is not an antibody test, and it will not check for immunity. Instead, your results will indicate current infection status.
After you receive your results, you will have an opportunity to have a telehealth consult with a healthcare provider from PWNHealth, who can answer any questions you may have about your test results and help determine next steps. If your test results are positive, PWNHealth’s Care Coordination Team may attempt to contact you to notify you of your results and schedule a physician consult.
Partnership: You’ll notice a lot of references to PWNHealth in this blog post. PWNHealth is an independent physician network that provides oversight services for Picture Genetics, including clinical review and approval of tests as well as post-test consultations. While Picture provides the testing kits, genetic analysis, and reporting; PWN provides the necessary clinical services that make our tests complete. PWNHealth and its services are independent from Picture Genetics and their services.
More info about the coronavirus: The best sources for the latest information on the coronavirus are the CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/covid/) and WHO (https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019).
We've also written a short coronavirus testing guide to answer questions like, what's the difference between an antibody test and a molecular test? You can find those answers here. Or if you’re looking for tips on coping during these unprecedented times, check out this compilation post from our team.
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