Frequently Asked Questions

The Detect Covid-19 Test™ is a molecular in vitro diagnostic test using isothermal amplification and lateral flow technologies for the qualitative detection of RNA from SARS-CoV-2 ‒ the virus that causes Covid-19 ‒ in self-collected anterior nares (nasal) swab specimens. The test detects if you have an active infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, and can detect an infection at lower viral loads than antigen tests, allowing for earlier detection, whether or not you have symptoms.

Yes. The Detect test has been authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for over-the-counter home use. It has not been FDA cleared or approved.

The test has been authorized only for the detection of nucleic acid from SARS-CoV-2, not for any other viruses or pathogens. The emergency use of this product is only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use of in vitro diagnostics for detection and/or diagnosis of Covid-19 under Section 564(b)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the declaration is terminated, or authorization is revoked sooner.

The Detect test uses RT-LAMP (Reverse Transcription Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification) and lateral flow strip technologies to identify nucleic acids from a specific part of the SARS-CoV-2 genome called the Open Reading Frame 1ab (ORF1ab). SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that causes Covid-19. The Detect test also identifies nucleic acids from a human gene that serves as a control for sample collection, test reagents, and test execution.

Diagnostic tests for Covid-19 include molecular and antigen tests. Most currently available at-home rapid tests are antigen tests.

Antigen tests look for protein markers on the outside of the virus that causes Covid-19 while molecular tests look for viral genomic material specific to the virus.

The Detect Covid-19 Test™ is a PCR-like molecular test - PCR tests are conducted by clinical laboratories and are considered the gold standard for diagnostic tests. Molecular tests amplify bits of viral RNA millions of times so that an active infection can be detected even when only small amounts of virus are present. Detect is a LAMP (loop-mediated isothermal amplification) test and therefore provides faster results than traditional PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) tests without sophisticated laboratory equipment but with similar accuracy and quality.

Antigen tests work best to see if a person is infectious by determining if they are at or near the peak of an infection. They can produce false negative results as there is some lag time between when someone gets infected and when the amounts of antigen in their samples are high enough for detection with an antigen test. The coronavirus replicates itself by putting its genetic material inside our cells. If you are testing a person at the stage when the virus is still replicating inside the cells, it may not have produced sufficient protein or shed the protein in large enough amounts to be detected yet by antigen testing.

Molecular tests such as the Detect Covid-19 Test are able to pick up very small amounts of viral RNA very early in an infection, so there is a low chance for false negative results, including among pre-symptomatic Covid-19 cases.

In a clinical study, no false positive results were observed with the Detect Covid-19 Test when interpreted correctly.

The following performance characteristics were established for the Detect test based on our clinical studies.

Accuracy is defined as the percent of samples that gave the expected result with the Detect Covid-19 Test™ in comparison with the reference PCR test, including all results, both positive and negative.

Sensitivity is defined as the percent of samples that gave the expected positive result with the Detect Covid-19 Test in comparison with the reference PCR test.

The Limit of Detection is defined as the lowest concentration of the viral genomic material that the test can consistently detect.

The Detect test has been designed to be simple and easy to be used by anyone without any special training. To perform the test, you will need the following - a single-use Detect Covid-19 Test™, a reusable Detect Hub™ sold separately, and the Detect App™ available in app stores. The app is required to run the test, provides step-by-step video instructions, and helps with results interpretation.

The testing process involves a few minutes of hands-on work and ~55 minutes of sample processing in the Hub. The steps involve swabbing the nostrils using a soft-tip Swab, stirring the swab in a Test Tube that contains liquid, then mixing the sample with our proprietary reagent enclosed inside the Detect Cap, processing the sample in the Hub, and then inserting the tube into a Reader along with liquid provided in a Dropper. Reading the results is as simple as checking if there are one or two lines on the Reader strip.

In addition to the Detect App, detailed test instructions are also available here.

All sales made via our website are final. Except in the limited circumstances described below, we do not accept physical return of our products - used or unused - and we do not issue refunds. Make sure that you carefully review your purchase details and information related to our products before submitting your order.

We do not issue refunds or replacements for tests that are beyond their Use By date under any circumstances.

Replacements products will be provided at no additional charge if the following situations occur as confirmed by Detect:

Orders may be cancelled for a full refund prior to shipment from Detect.

Detect Verified™ purchases may be refunded in full within 30 days of purchase if the vouchers are unused. Any associated test kit and/or hub purchases are subject to the return/refund limitations described above.

You need a single-use Detect Covid-19 Test™, a reusable Detect Hub™, and the Detect App™ to perform the Detect test:

Each single-use test box includes the following and all components are to be disposed of after use:

The Detect Hub is sold separately and can be reused with any Detect Covid-19 Test and shared among multiple individuals. The Hub processes one sample at a time and the processing step takes ~ 55 minutes.

The Detect App is available to download for free in app stores for both iOS and Android smartphones.

The Detect Hub™ is needed for testing samples with the Detect Covid-19 Test testing samples with the Detect Covid-19 Test. It works similarly to a PCR machine used in laboratories to copy and amplify small segments of the viral genome from nasal swab samples. The processing step in the Hub takes about 55 minutes. Please ensure that the Hub is not unplugged during that step.

The Hub is reusable and can be used with multiple Detect Covid-19 Tests - as many as 2000+ tests based on our internal testing. The Hub processes one sample at a time. Multiple individuals may share a single Hub.

The Detect Hub comes with a USB cable and a power adapter and should be plugged into a wall outlet (100-240V AC).

The Detect Hub should be operated on a level surface, at room temperature only (59 ºF - 86 ºF) and not where the temperatures are too hot or too cold.

The Detect App™ is available to download for free to your smartphone in US versions of both Apple and Google app stores. The app provides step-by-step video instructions for the testing process aids result interpretation. The app also stores your test results history for easy reference.

The Detect App is compatible with iPhone models released after 2013 and using the operating system iOS 13 or higher, as well as Android models released after 2013 and the Android API level 26 (Android 8 or higher). A list of compatible devices can be found here.

No. The Detect test is available for use without a prescription or a doctor’s order.

Detect™ conducts routine surveillance of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variant strains and will continue to monitor the effectiveness of our test for such variants. Based on bioinformatic analysis conducted as of May 28, 2022, the Detect test is expected to recognize all currently known Variants of Concern. The mutations that characterize the Delta and Omicron variants (including Omicron subvariants) do not occur in the part of the viral genome targeted by the Detect test and are therefore not expected to affect the test's performance. Clinical validation with patient samples has not been done with the Detect test for these variants.

No. None of the vaccines currently approved for use in the United States are expected to affect the Detect test results.

The Detect Covid-19 Test™ is intended for non-prescription home use for individuals 2 years of age or older. The test can be self-administered by individuals aged 14 years or older, while adults can administer the test for children aged 2 to 13 years old. The test may be used whether you are or are not exhibiting symptoms of a Covid-19 infection as well as if you have been exposed to individuals who are confirmed to have an active infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19.

No. The Detect Covid-19 Test is designed to be easy-to-use and comes with a soft-tip swab that is comfortable to use. To collect a sample for the test, you need to insert the swab until only its tip is inside the nostril. There is no need to insert the swab deeper inside the nose.

No. At this time, the Detect test is only available within the United States. The Detect App can be downloaded from US versions of the app stores.

Detect™ offers the following shipping options for online orders placed on our website:

All orders using the UPS shipping methods are typically shipped out the next business day. Orders placed Monday through Thursday are shipped the following day (excluding holidays). Orders placed on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are shipped on the following Monday (excluding holidays).

We do not ship outside the US, to US territories, APO/FPO addresses, and to PO Box addresses.

Express shipping options including 2-hour, same-day, and next-day shipping via the Ohi service, are available in certain geographical areas. Those options will be shown during the ordering process if available.

You may pay for your Detect test and Detect Hub™ using a valid FSA/HSA payment card.

Additionally, as per the new federal administration guidelines, your purchase of the Detect tests made on or after January 15, 2022 may be eligible for reimbursement by your insurer. We recommend reaching out to your insurance carrier directly to discuss reimbursement including what is required to file a claim and their specific policies. Your order confirmation email is your purchase receipt. Detect™ is not currently part of any online network set up by insurers.

Each Detect™ test is labeled with a “Use By” date. Please ensure you check the date before using the test. Typically, the tests available after April 2022 expire 6-8 months from the manufacturing date. This is determined by the expiration dates of various components included in the test box. The tests you receive may have a shorter shelf life (4-6 months) depending on the order date. Our website provides up-to-date “Use By” date information for tests that are available at that time — please review carefully before you purchase.

The Detect test and the Detect Hub™ should be stored and used at room temperature (59 °F - 86 °F) away from direct sunlight. Do not store them in a refrigerator or hot location. Detect has performed stability studies that demonstrate the tests perform as expected if exposed to lower or higher temperature conditions encountered during shipping.

Serial testing involves testing the same person multiple times within a few days in order to increase the chances of identifying an infection early before the person is exhibiting any symptoms.

The Detect test should always be used for serial testing if your first test is negative and you don’t have symptoms or recent exposure to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19. You should use a second test after at least 24 hours but within 48 hours. If the first or second test result is positive, then you are likely to be currently infected with the virus that causes Covid-19 and should consult with a healthcare provider.

Detect™ has partnered with Carbon Health to provide this integrated service within the Detect App™. Detect test takers can access follow-up care, including antivirals (if eligible) from Carbon Health using this service. Once you take the Detect test, if you get a positive result or a negative result but are experiencing symptoms, you can connect directly with Carbon Health’s telehealth or in-person primary care clinic and schedule an appointment.

The service is not part of your Detect purchase. Carbon Health accepts most major insurance plans.

You can get additional information about this service here.

Each Detect Covid-19 Test™ comes with a unique one-time use activation code printed inside of the test box. The code needs to be scanned or entered into the Detect App™ to start each test and access the video instructions. Each code is 28 characters long, and the last 8 characters of the code are recorded in the Test Result History in the app.

Please follow carefully the detailed instructions provided via the Detect App™ in order to ensure a valid result with your Detect test.

An invalid test result means there may have been an error in using the test. If you retest, please ensure you follow all instructions carefully.

Some of the reasons for an invalid test result include:

A false negative result may occur if the sample was not collected properly due to incorrect swabbing of the nose or if the amount of the SARS-CoV-2 virus present on the swab is below the levels that can be detected by the test.

False negative results may also occur if the person is taking high dose biotin (Vitamin B7) supplements

Based on the clinical studies performed by Detect to validate the test, the test specificity is 100%, meaning the test correctly identified negative samples 100% of the time when results were interpreted correctly. This means the chances of a false positive result with the Detect test are extremely low.

Detect™ does not automatically report your test results to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) or other public health agencies. However, you can report your Detect Covid-19 Test™ results to public health agencies as part of the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act. This information helps them track the virus and determine appropriate public health measures and guidelines in response to the current pandemic.

You can choose to report your results only to the CDC and relevant local/state public health agencies. For each type of report, you will be asked to provide the required information.

The information you provide is completely secure and not stored by Detect.

Reporting of test results to the relevant agencies can be done via the Detect App™ after you complete the test or via our website at https://detect.com/publichealth/reporting.