Why a 1-minute COVID test matters

May 19, 2020

bioLytical’s INSTI HIV test has been helping people know their status in only one minute for more than a decade. With flexibility and convenience, it helps organizations make testing more accessible to their communities. That’s why we decided to adapt our HIV test to create a new 1-minute test for SARS-CoV-2.  We’ve got countless stories about 1-minute making the difference, and it’s time to bring a 1-minute test to the fight against COVID-19.

  1. INSTI can be used anywhere

The one-minute HIV test is already used in outreach testing from AIDS Walks to Pride Parades and even in the club.

This shows the flexibility of a 1-minute test, making it ideal for COVID-19 testing in any location, from parking lots to outdoor spaces.

  1. INSTI is a simple procedure for the patient

INSTI is performed with a simple finger-prick, with testers collecting a small blood sample to run the test. It is not painful and anyone familiar with blood glucose monitoring for diabetes will also be familiar with this process.

  1. INSTI is self-contained

As HIV testers have already discovered, INSTI test kits contain all the materials needed for testing. No reagents, no swabs, no timers required. This has significant advantages for unorthodox testing approaches. In Puerto Rico, for example, INSTI is used in a curbside testing program.

As drive-thru testing becomes an increasingly popular option during the COVID-19 pandemic, the advantages of a self-contained test are clear.

  1. Low contact time

Both the patient and the provider feel reassured with the short contact time of an INSTI test. From the beginning of the test until the result, the entire procedure takes only one minute. This avoids prolonged contact which could increase infection risk.

  1. It’s convenient

When it comes to HIV, a one-minute testing time means that the tester gets to spend more time talking to the patient, providing counseling or advice. As maximizing the data about COVID-19 infections becomes more vital, this means that providers can test more people in less time than ever before.

Learn more here: INSTI COVID-19 Antibody Test

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