A resident picks up the package after a drone delivered a COVID-19 self collection test kit to her home in El Paso, Texas, US, on Nov 20, 2020. [Photo/Agencies]
Americans are getting greater access to coronavirus test kits that aim to detect the virus easily and quickly from the comfort of one s home.
There are two types of at-home tests on the market. One is a saliva test, the other a swab test.
The saliva test is an alternative to the uncomfortable nasal swabs now widely used. A user dribbles saliva into a test tube, seals it and sends it to a lab. Doctors examine the secretions to determine if the person has been infected with the virus.