Brisbane-based biotech company Ellume has been awarded FDA approval in the United States for its home COVID-19 test to be rolled out.
Developed and wholly manufactured in south-east Queensland, Ellume’s tests are self-contained and can deliver a result in as little as 15 minutes, from a sample taken with a nasal swab. Ellume's kits are used with a free phone app, and do not require samples to be sent to a lab, meaning it can generate a result in around 15 minutes.
Dr Parsons said they will not be seeking regulatory approval for the product in Australia straight away, as the product was not needed here because of Australia's good handling of the pandemic.“Australia has different testing needs than Europe and America, where there is far more COVID,” he said. “This is the sort of things that will not only allow home testing but, for example, the NFL are looking at these kits because they want to get crowds to their finals,” Professor McMillan said.
“I would think sporting codes, for example, would be knocking down the door to get their hands on these,” he said.