Published
Mon, Mar 1, 2021, 09:30
- Boasting 99% efficacy, it's presented as an important step to reopening the events industries.
testFRWD's self-administered PCR saliva test kit has been distributed to Germany, Spain, Portugal and the UK.
Pitched as a key tool for reopening mass events in the music, sports and tourism sectors, the test kit aims to guarantee a "non-infectious time window of 72 hours." It's also framed as more effective than rapid antigen tests, with a "specificity of more than 99%," and claims to be the first PCR test kit that can be used at home without need for a health professional or sterile environment.
Paired with an app that uses facial recognition algorithms to identify test recipients, users film themselves gargling the saline solution for a minute and receive results via an app in 24 hours. Users then receive a verification that allows them to attend the event.
testFRWD is already available in Austria and is being used by the government to test school children. Major football clubs like Bayern München and AC Milan are supporting the venture's roadmap for reopening sports events. The test was launched in September last year.