Author: Alfred Caminos

Alfred Caminos is co-founder of 4U Health and a seasoned healthcare professional with over 25+ years experience in managing and consulting for medical companies.
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Utilizing At-Home Drug Testing in Children for Implementing a Drug Free Household

Two closed fists with "Drug Free" written on the outside of the fingers. 4U Health's Urine & Saliva Drug Test Kits can be used in a drug-free household program.

Two closed fists with Drug Free written on the outside of the fingers. 4U Health's Urine & Saliva Drug Test Kits can be used in a drug-free household program. As a parent, you want to do everything in your power to keep your children safe and healthy. Unfortunately, drug abuse is a real and growing problem among teenagers, and it can be difficult to detect until it becomes a serious issue. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry warns that the average age of first marijuana use is 14 years-old1. A study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry revealed that 81 percent of teens said they had the opportunity to use illicit substances, with 42.5 percent actually trying them2. In fact, the CDC reports 15% of high school students reported having misused prescription opioids or select illicit drugs (i.e. cocaine, inhalants, heroin, methamphetamines, hallucinogens, or ecstasy)3. One way for parents to address this problem is by utilizing an at-home urine drug test or saliva drug test for your children. In this article, we will explore the benefits of at-home drug testing and how it can help you create a drug-free household.

Provides an Early Warning System

One of the biggest benefits of at-home drug testing is that it provides an early warning system for potential drug abuse. If your child tests positive for drugs, it gives you an opportunity to intervene early and get them the help they need before the problem becomes more serious. By detecting drug use early, you can prevent it from turning into a full-blown addiction.

Creates a Deterrent

Another benefit of at-home drug testing is that it creates a deterrent for drug use. Knowing that they could be tested at any time can discourage your children from experimenting with drugs in the first place. This can help prevent drug use from becoming a problem in your household.

Builds Trust

At-home drug testing can also be a tool for building trust with your children. By being transparent about your expectations and using drug testing as a preventative measure, you can show your children that you care about their well-being and want to keep them safe. This can create an environment of trust and open communication, which is crucial for preventing drug use.

Helps Establish Boundaries

Drug testing can also be used as a way to establish clear boundaries with your children. By setting expectations and enforcing consequences for drug use, you can establish a clear understanding of what is and is not acceptable behavior in your household. This can help prevent drug use from becoming a problem and create a safer environment for your children.

Encourages Responsibility

At-home drug testing can encourage responsibility in your children. By giving them the opportunity to make the right choices and hold themselves accountable, you can empower them to make good decisions and avoid negative consequences. This can help them develop a sense of responsibility and ownership over their choices, which is an important skill for success in life.

Shields Against Peer Pressure

Lastly, at-home drug testing can provide your child with an excuse to not cave to peer pressure. Parents can teach their children to utilize a canned response when being offered drugs like “my parents drug test me at home, and if I ever test positive, I’ll lose my _____(e.g. car privileges, athletic privileges, allowance, college money, freedom – they’ll actually send me to military school, etc.). Teach your kids to blame you when speaking to their friends or peers, offering an easy out without being shamed.

If you are considering implementing a preventative at-home drug testing program in your household or want to check your child because of recent suspicious behavior, be sure to have an open and honest conversation with them about your intentions. Stress that you are trying to protect them because you love them. It’s also beneficial to stress that you only want what is best for your children because you know the damage drug use can cause to kids and their families. It is particularly beneficial to use real life examples of friends, families or other individuals that have experienced negative consequences of drug abuse.

In conclusion, at-home drug testing can be a valuable tool for parents looking to create a drug-free household. By providing an early warning system, creating a deterrent, building trust, establishing boundaries, encouraging responsibility, and providing an out against peer pressure, drug testing can help keep your children safe and healthy.

At Home Drug Test, Urine (78 Target)

Sale!
4U Health At Home Urine Drug Test Kit Product Box Image

Urine test for the presence and quantity of 31 different classes of drugs present in urine, such as alcohol, amphetamines, cannabis, cocaine, opiates/opioids, MDMA, & more.

$149.00

At Home Drug Test, Saliva (54 Target)

Sale!
4U Health At Home Saliva Drug Test Kit Product Box Image

Saliva test for the presence and quantity of 31 different classes of drugs present in urine, such as alcohol, amphetamines, cannabis, cocaine, opiates/opioids, MDMA, & more.

$124.95

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How Best To Achieve Pain Relief While Reducing Likelihood of Pain Medication Side Effects

Spilled bottle of pills with bottles of pain medicine in the background, 4U Health's PGx Pain Medication Response test can help you select the best pain drug for your genetics

Spilled bottle of pills with bottles of pain medicine in the background, 4U Health's PGx Pain Medication Response test can help you select the best pain drug for your genetics Pain is a complex and often challenging experience that can significantly impact one’s quality of life. There are various pain management options available, depending on if your pain is chronic or acute, or if your pain is caused by tissue damage, nerve damage or functional (Fibromyalgia, Irritable Bowel, etc.) reasons1. From prescription to over-the-counter medications, patients and doctors have several great drug options to help alleviate symptoms. However, not all pain medications are equally effective for everyone, and some can cause unwanted side effects. Fortunately, with the advancement of an At-Home Pain Medication Response PGx Gene Test, it is now possible to personalize pain management drug options based on an individual’s genetic makeup to help select the safest pain medication that will yield the best therapeutic outcome.

Pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing analyzes an individual’s genes to help identify how a person’s body metabolizes certain medications, including pain relief drugs2. It can determine if a person is a rapid, intermediate, or slow metabolizer of a particular medicine. This information is important because it can help identify the best medication and dosage for an individual, increasing the likelihood of achieving pain relief while reducing the chances of unwanted adverse drug reactions.

Several studies have shown that PGx testing can improve pain management outcomes and reduce the risk of dangerous adverse effects. A recent peer-reviewed study showed that PGx testing can help identify which pain medications are most effective for individual patients and can reduce the number of side effects experienced by those patients3. Another study published in U.S. Pharmacist showed that PGx testing can improve the efficacy of opioid therapy and reduce the risk of side effects in patients with chronic pain4.

A Real World Case Example (Ultra Rapid Metabolizer)5

Some pain medications, such as Codeine, Tramadol, Hydrocodone and Oxycodone are metabolized too quickly by some individuals, often leading to inadequate pain relief and increased risk of severe adverse drug reactions. As an example, a 5 and a half year-old boy underwent tonsillectomy. Upon returning home from surgery around 6 hours later, he received a single 20-mg dose of tramadol. The following morning, the boy was found extremely lethargic by his parents and rushed to the emergency room (ER). Upon arrival to the ER he was comatose, with pin-point pupils, minimal respiratory effort, frequent episodes of apnea, and an oxygen saturation rate of just 48% in room air. Tramadol is metabolized by CYP2D6 to O-desmethyltramadol and other metabolites. A PGx test was conducted, and the results indicated that the boy was a CYP2D6 ultra rapid metabolizer, the cause of the young boy’s adverse drug reaction. Fortunately, he made a full recovery with non-invasive ventilation and intravenous naloxone.

A Real World Case Example (Poor Metabolizer)6

On the other hand, some people metabolize their pain relief medications too slowly. As an example, a 43-year-old man developed chronic neck pain after a motor vehicle accident. After he was assessed for risk, his pain management doctor determined he was a candidate for opioid therapy, and he agreed to a pain contract. Despite the patient being on a scheduled dose of hydrocodone for 1 month, his first drug screen came back negative, showing no hydromorphone present. Hydrocodone is metabolized to hydromorphone by CYP2D6. The patient agreed to PGx testing to see how he metabolized the hydrocodone. Results showed that the patient was a CYP2D6 poor metabolizer, which helped explain why hydromorphone was undetectable with the urine drug screen, why the patient was not experiencing pain relief, and restored the physician’s trust in the patient to provide an alternative treatment plan.

As indicated in the above real-world scenarios, a person’s genetics may cause variations in drug metabolism that can result in a drug’s duration of effect lasting for longer or shorter periods than intended. When undiagnosed, this can further lead to tolerance, which could result in the person needing to use a higher dose or a more frequent dose of a particular drug to achieve the same effects. This may increase the risk of addiction and lead to dangerous side effects like respiratory failure.

PGx testing can help identify individuals at increased risk of poor therapeutic outcomes and guide the selection of appropriate pain medications and dosages. For instance, if a person is a rapid metabolizer, their physician may consider an alternative pain medication or adjust the dosage to achieve the desired therapeutic effect. Similarly, if a person is a slow metabolizer of a particular medication, their physician may consider a lower dosage or a different medication altogether to avoid the risk of adverse effects.

One of the most significant advantages of at-home PGx testing is its accessibility and convenience. With at-home testing kits, individuals can collect a DNA sample through a cheek swab and send it to a lab for analysis. The results are usually available within a few days, and individuals can share them with their healthcare provider to help guide their pain management decisions.

In conclusion, personalized pain management through PGx testing is a promising approach to improve the effectiveness of pain medications while reducing the risk of unwanted side effects. An At-Home Pain Medication Response PGx Gene Test provides a convenient and accessible option for individuals to obtain this information and make informed decisions about their pain management options. If you are experiencing pain and are interested in exploring personalized pain management options, consider taking a PGx test to share your results with your healthcare provider for improved pain management outcomes.

At-Home Pain Medication Response (PGx Gene Test)

4U Health At-Home Pain Management Medication Response PGx Gene Test Kit Product Image
4U Health At Home Lab Test Kit Registration Card
4U Health At Home Lab Test Kit Collection Instructions
4U Health At Home Lab Test Kit Specimen Bag
4U Health At Home COVID Antibody Test Return Prepaid Shipping Label

DNA test to learn how 8 of your unique genes may affect your sensitivity to 40 pain relief drugs

$279.00

At Home Comprehensive Medication Response (PGx Gene Test)

4U Health At-Home Comprehensive Medication Response PGx Gene Test Kit Product Image

Our most complete DNA test analyzes 20 genes to show your sensitivity to 224 prescribed drugs

$349.00

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Minimize the Likelihood of Blood Pressure and Statin Medicine Side Effects

Heart Medicine Response PGx Gene Test Blog Image

Heart Medicine Response PGx Gene Test Blog Image High blood pressure and high cholesterol are two of the most common health issues faced by Americans, with more than 49 million U.S. adults taking medication to treat hypertension and 40 million plus adults on cholesterol lowering statin drugs. A Cardiac Medication Response PGx Gene Test can reduce the occurrence of adverse drug reactions while improving the likelihood of good treatment outcomes for patients taking statins and blood pressure medicines.

In many cases, cholesterol lowering medications like statins and blood pressure controlling drugs like Beta Blockers and ARBs (Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers) are prescribed to manage these chronic cardiovascular conditions. However, not all medications are suitable for everyone. This is where pharmacogenomics (PGx) testing comes in, providing personalized recommendations for the best statin or blood pressure medication based on a person’s unique genetic makeup.

Pharmacogenomics is the study of how an individual’s genetic profile may affect their response to medications. A PGx lab test involves collecting an easy cheek swab sample for the purpose of analyzing a person’s DNA to identify genetic variants that may affect how their body processes certain drugs. By analyzing a patient’s genetic profile, doctors can personalize prescribed drugs based on an individual’s genes to increase the likelihood of a good treatment outcome while diminishing the risk of side effects.

As an example, there are seven categories of statin drugs available in the United States: Atorvastatin (Lipitor®), Fluvastatin (Lescol®), Lovastatin (Mevacor® or Altoprev™), Pitavastatin (Livalo® or Zypitamag®), Pravastatin (Pravachol), Rosuvastatin (Crestor® or Ezallor Sprinkle®), and Simvastatin (Flolipid® or Zocor). These medicines are prescribed to help people lower cholesterol, but approximately only 43% of Americans taking a statin achieve LDL cholesterol goal values. Moreover, statin users may experience unwanted symptoms. Mild side effects of statins include headache, nausea, dizziness, gas, diarrhea, constipation, and achy muscles or joints. More severe side effects of statins may include confusion, memory loss, kidney damage, liver damage, significant muscle problems, and type 2 diabetes or high blood sugar. PGx testing can identify individuals who are at increased risk for side effects and help physicians recommend a statin that is less likely to cause adverse reactions. Equally important, a PGx test can flag statin drugs that may be less likely to help an individual achieve treatment goals.

Similarly, blood pressure medications can have varying effects on different individuals. People on blood pressure medications like Atenolol (Tenormin®), Bisoprolol (Zebeta®), Carvedilol (Coreg®), Labetalol (Normodyne®, Trandate®), Metoprolol (Lopressor®), Nebivolol (Systolic®), Propranolol (lnderal®), and Timolol (Timoptic®) may experience common beta blocker side effects such as anxiety, cold hands and feet, depression, difficulty sleeping or strange dreams, dizziness, dry mouth, dry skin, dry eyes, gastrointestinal effects (such as nausea, diarrhea, or constipation), headache, slowing of your heartbeat, shortness of breath, sexual dysfunction or low libido, tiredness or fatigue, and weight gain. Severe beta blocker side effects may include a very slow or irregular heartbeat, difficulty breathing or wheezing, or significant fluid retention or swelling. People on blood pressure medications like Azilsartan (Edarbi®, Edarbyclor®), Candesartan (Atacand®), Eprosartan (Teveten®), lrbesartan (Avapro®), Losartan (Cozaar®, Hyzaar®), Olmesartan (Benicar®), Telmisartan (Micardis®), and Valsartan (Diovan®, Entresto®) may experience common ARB drug side effects such as headache, fainting, dizziness, fatigue, respiratory symptoms, vomiting and diarrhea, back pain, leg swelling, and high potassium levels. In more severe cases, some people taking an ARB may have liver failure, kidney failure, angioedema (tissue swelling), lower white blood cell (WBC) counts, or irregular heartbeat caused by high blood potassium levels. PGx testing can identify individuals who are at increased risk for side effects from beta blockers or ARB drugs and recommend a blood pressure medication that is less likely to cause adverse reactions.

Statins, blood pressure lowering drugs and other heart medicines help millions of people, but finding the right drug and dosage can take a long time using the typical protocol of trial-and-error prescribing. With this methodology, patients try different options over an extended period of time to find the right balance of benefits and unwanted side effects.

Fortunately, there’s an alternative to this “throwing darts at a dartboard” process. 4U Health’s Cardiac Medication Response Test is a cutting edge pharmacogenomic (PGx) DNA test that analyzes 13 specific genes in your body known to impact the usefulness of 40+ heart health focused medications. Share your report with your doctor to help get prescribed the best drugs and dosages based on your unique genetic profile.
PGx test results score drugs into three categories:

  • Green: Standard Precautions
  • Yellow: Use With Caution
  • Red: Consider Alternatives

You will also learn how you metabolize each medicine:

  • Poor metabolizer: Reduced or no enzyme activity, which could lead to higher drug concentrations in the body and an increased risk of side effects.
  • Intermediate metabolizer: Reduced enzyme activity, potentially leading to increased drug concentrations and a higher risk of side effects compared to normal metabolizers.
  • Normal (extensive) metabolizer: Typical enzyme activity and a standard drug response.
  • Rapid metabolizer: Increased enzyme activity, which could result in lower drug concentrations and potentially reduced drug efficacy.
  • Ultrarapid metabolizer: Significantly increased enzyme activity, leading to very low drug concentrations and a high risk of treatment failure.

In conclusion, pharmacogenomic testing can be a valuable tool for doctors when selecting statin or blood pressure medications for their patients. By analyzing your genetic makeup, your doctor can tailor treatment plans that are specific to your DNA, possibly improving treatment outcomes and reducing the risk of side effects and adverse reactions.

4U Health At-Home Cardiac Medication Response (PGx Gene Test)

4U Health At-Home Cardiac Medication Response PGx Gene Test Kit Product Image

DNA test to learn how 13 of your unique genes may affect your sensitivity to 40+ cardiac drugs

$289.00

At Home Comprehensive Medication Response (PGx Gene Test)

4U Health At-Home Comprehensive Medication Response PGx Gene Test Kit Product Image

Our most complete DNA test analyzes 20 genes to show your sensitivity to 224 prescribed drugs

$349.00

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Test To See if You Had COVID

3d rendering of a covid cell
COVID-19 Virus
Is there a test to see if you had covid?

A Spike COVID Antibody Test can detect a past COVID-19 infection in a non-vaccinated individual. But if your vaccinated, you’ll need a Nucleocapsid COVID Antibody Test to see if you already had COVID.

COVID-19 is a viral disease that has affected the lives of billions of people around the world. But you may be wondering if you personally already had COVID-19. You can easily test to see if you already had COVID-19 by undergoing an antibody test. There are different types of tests available, including the spike COVID antibody test and the nucleocapsid COVID antibody test. Depending on your vaccine status, you need to select the proper antibody test type to detect a prior COVID-19 infection. The good news is both spike and nucleocapsid antibody tests are available for use in the USA via an FDA authorized at-home kit. Both types of tests are simple to collect, provide accurate results, and are an affordable option for at-home use to detect whether you already have been exposed to COVID-19 and made a protective antibody response.

Non-Vaccinated Individuals: Can use a spike antibody test to detect a past COVID-19 infection

The spike COVID antibody test detects the presence of antibodies specific to the spike protein of the coronavirus. This test can be used to determine if a non-vaccinated person has been infected with COVID-19. If you are non-vaccinated and want to know if you already had COVID, check out the At-Home COVID-19 Antibody Test With Antibody Score.

Vaccinated Individuals: Need to use a nucleocapsid antibody test to detect a past COVID-19 infection

On the other hand, a nucleocapsid COVID antibody test is needed to determine if a vaccinated individual already experienced a prior COVID-19 infection. This is because the COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use in the USA are designed to induce the production spike antibodies, which means vaccinated individuals may test positive to spike antibody tests regardless whether they experienced or not a previous COVID infection. The nucleocapsid COVID antibody test detects antibodies exclusive to the nucleocapsid protein of the coronavirus, which is not targeted by the vaccines. If you are vaccinated and want to know if you already had COVID, check out the Comprehensive At-Home COVID-19 Antibody Test, that in part checks for nucleocapsid COVID-19 antibodies.

Both tests are FDA authorized for self-collection in individuals 18 and older, or for collection by an adult in children five and older.

Related Content

How Long Do COVID Antibodies Last. 4U Health. Updated March 23, 2023.

Younger Males Should Wait Longer Between COVID-19 Vaccines Over Myocarditis Risk, CDC Advises. 4U Health. Updated February 28, 2022.

Omicron Name Used for Several Lineages of Coronavirus. 4U Health. Updated February 25, 2022.

N95 Masks Offer Better Protection Against COVID Omicron Variant Than Cloth Face Coverings, CDC Says. 4U Health. Updated February 24, 2022.

Saliva COVID Test Better Than Nasal Swabs To Detect Omicron, Study Says. 4U Health. Updated February 24, 2022.

About 4U Health

4U Health offers at-home lab testing to help you feel like your best self. Visit us at 4uHealth.com to learn about our COVID-19 Antibody Self-Collection At Home Test Kit, explore healthy living and wellness topics, and view our full at-home lab testing menu.

Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2021). Testing for COVID-19. URL.
Johns Hopkins Medicine. (2021). COVID-19 Antibody Testing. URL.

Updated: March 23, 2023

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How Long Do COVID Antibodies Last

Illustration of antibodies
COVID-19 Virus
COVID-19 immunity after infection or vaccination

March 23, 2023 — COVID-19 antibodies can stay in your body for a few months to over a year.

COVID-19 is a disease that has affected billions of people around the world. One way your body helps protect itself from COVID-19 is to make antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. When you get a vaccine or a COVID-19 infection, antibodies help your body fight off SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 disease. But how long do these COVID antibodies last?

What’s known for sure is everybody’s antibody response and duration is different. Your body’s production of antibody levels and how long they last depend on a few things. First, it hangs on if you elected to undergo the COVID-19 vaccine, how many does of the vaccine you received, whether you already had COVID-19, and on how strong your body’s immune response was to your exposure to the vaccine or the virus.

Some studies suggest that COVID antibodies from the vaccine may last for at least six months or more, but more research is needed to know for sure. Antibodies from a COVID infection may also last for several months. Some people see noticeable drops in COVID antibodies starting three to six months post infection or vaccine, while others still have robust levels one year or more after their immune response.

Antibodies are a crucial part of our body’s immune system response against viruses, including the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. One way to determine if you still have antibodies after being vaccinated or infected with COVID-19 is by using a spike COVID antibody test. The spike COVID antibody test is designed to detect antibodies specific to the spike protein of the coronavirus. This protein is responsible for the virus’s ability to enter and infect human cells. By measuring the level of antibodies to the spike protein, this test can provide information on the presence and strength of the immune response to COVID-19.

Using a spike COVID antibody test can also help determine if antibodies are waning or decreasing over time. This can be particularly important in determining the need for booster shots if you have not been vaccinated or infected for some time.

It’s important to note that while the presence of antibodies is a good indicator of the body’s preparedness to fight off a future COVID-19 infection, it doesn’t necessarily guarantee absolute protection from reinfection. The CDC says having antibodies is thought to help limit the severity of illness if the body is exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

To detect whether your body has made COVID-19 antibodies to a prior COVID-19 infection or vaccine and to learn if you still have detectable antibodies, check out 4U Health’s At-Home COVID-19 Antibody Test with Antibody Score

Related Content

Younger Males Should Wait Longer Between COVID-19 Vaccines Over Myocarditis Risk, CDC Advises. 4U Health. Updated February 28, 2022.

Omicron Name Used for Several Lineages of Coronavirus. 4U Health. Updated February 25, 2022.

N95 Masks Offer Better Protection Against COVID Omicron Variant Than Cloth Face Coverings, CDC Says. 4U Health. Updated February 24, 2022.

Saliva COVID Test Better Than Nasal Swabs To Detect Omicron, Study Says. 4U Health. Updated February 24, 2022.

About 4U Health

4U Health offers at-home lab testing to help you feel like your best self. Visit us at 4uHealth.com to learn about our COVID-19 Antibody Self-Collection At Home Test Kit, explore healthy living and wellness topics, and view our full at-home lab testing menu.

Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2021). Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccination. URL.
National Institutes of Health (NIH). (2021). COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines: Antiviral Therapy. URL.
FDA. (2021). Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Authorizes Additional Vaccine Dose for Certain Immunocompromised Individuals. URL.
Harvard Health Publishing. (2021). COVID-19 antibodies, immunity, and vaccination: What you need to know. URL.

Updated: March 23, 2023

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Natural Immunity for the Win! At-Home COVID Antibody Test Gets FDA EUA

Illustration of a cartoonish person holding a shield defending itself from covid virus cells

COVID-19 Virus

Update on COVID Antibodies Testing

March 5, 2022 — Symbiotica, Inc. received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Self-Collected COVID-19 Antibody Test Kit System, the first antibody test authorized for use with a simple home collected dried blood spot sample.

The COVID-19 Self-Collection Antibody Test System is intended for use as an aid to inform individuals over 5-years-old whether their body has made an adaptive immune response to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 disease. When someone is exposed to COVID-19 or vaccinated, their body usually produces antibodies as part of its immune reaction. This self-collect serology (antibody) test accurately tells the test taker whether they have antibodies to COVID-19. The test has a documented clinical sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 98.04%.

The collection kit is not only accurate, but easy to use. The EUA allows for fingerstick dried blood samples to be self-collected at home by an individual over 18-years-old or collected by an adult from an individual over 5-years-old. The collected samples are then sent to California where a Symbiotica CLIA certified laboratory performs the analysis.

The test is available by prescription and offered online by 4UHealth.com. 4U Health is a wellness company that provides at-home lab testing kits and digital results for consumers. Instead of going to the doctor or health care provider to administer a test, individuals can now order a Covid Antibody Test kit online, perform the test collection in-home and send it to the lab for results.

“The authorization of the first prescription use, home collection antibody test will play an important role in helping health care professionals identify individuals who have developed an adaptive immune response from a recent or prior COVID-19 infection,” said Jeff Shuren, MD, JD, director of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health. 

Some antibodies made for the virus that causes COVID-19 provide protection from getting infected. CDC is evaluating what degree of safety COVID antibodies provide and how long protection from antibodies might last. Although infection is possible after having produced antibodies from vaccination or prior infection, having antibodies plays an important role in helping prevent severe COVID-19 disease.

The COVID-19 antibody test is authorized for at-home collection in all states, except for MD, NY and PA.

About FDA Emergency Use Authorization

The emergency use of this at home self-collection serology test system 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 FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices.

Related Content

Younger Males Should Wait Longer Between COVID-19 Vaccines Over Myocarditis Risk, CDC Advises. 4U Health. Updated February 28, 2022.

Omicron Name Used for Several Lineages of Coronavirus. 4U Health. Updated February 25, 2022.

N95 Masks Offer Better Protection Against COVID Omicron Variant Than Cloth Face Coverings, CDC Says. 4U Health. Updated February 24, 2022.

Saliva COVID Test Better Than Nasal Swabs To Detect Omicron, Study Says. 4U Health. Updated February 24, 2022.

About 4U Health

4U Health offers at-home lab testing to help you feel like your best self. Visit us at 4uHealth.com to learn about our COVID-19 Antibody Self-Collection At Home Test Kit, explore healthy living and wellness topics, and view our full at-home lab testing menu.

Updated: March 5, 2022

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Free Antiviral Pills for COVID-19 Positive People, President Biden Says

COVID-19 Virus
Update on COVID-19 Antiviral Treatments

March 2, 2022 — The United States government is apparently launching a program dubbed ‘test to treat’, a plan aiming to provide free antiviral pills at pharmacies for people who test positive for COVID-19, according to President Biden’s remarks during his State of the Union Address.

Gilead Science’s Remdesivir is the only antiviral drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of COVID-19. Known commercially as Veklury, as of Jan. 21 the FDA has expanded its emergency use authorization (EUA) to include treatment in non-hospitalized patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 who have a high risk of their case becoming severe. Prior to the agency’s announcement via news release, the drug had been limited exclusively to hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Remdesivir is administered via an intravenous (IV) treatment. So it, along with another IV administered drug, Sotrovimab, may likely be excluded from the new pharmacy based program.

Ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir (Paxlovid) and molnupiravir have recently received emergency use authorizations from the FDA for the treatment of COVID-19. Both are orally administered drugs and may likely play a part in the president’s ‘test to treat’ initiative.

Paxlovid — a five-day oral Covid treatment that can reduce the risk of hospitalizations by nearly 90 percent — has remained in critically short supply since its Dec. 22 emergency authorization. The Biden administration has purchased 20 million Paxlovid courses, half of which Pfizer said it expects to deliver by the end of June and the remainder by Sept. 30. A robust supply of the treatment is not expected until April of this year.

While the emergency use authorized antiviral, molnupiravir — co-developed by Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics — is not the recommended treatment for Covid-19 infected people except when a patient has a contraindication to other therapeutics. A lower efficacy, inherent safety concerns, and a divided FDA Advisory Committee meeting meant that molnupiravir moved down the treatment schematic for Covid-19. However, in times of shortage, it remains the least supply constrained therapeutic treatment option for several states. The federal government has purchased more than 3 million treatment courses of molnupiravir.

And like most medications, Paxlovid and molnupiravir aren’t for everyone. Paxlovid isn’t recommended for people with severe kidney problems, for example, and molnupiravir should not be taken during pregnancy.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has its COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines that includes recommendations for caring for non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients who are at high-risk for progressing to severe COVID-19 disease. The Panel recommends the use of the following anti-SARS-CoV-2 therapies for the treatment of COVID-19 listed in order of preference based on efficacy and convenience of use:

  • Ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir (Paxlovid) (Oral)
  • Sotrovimab (IV Therapy)
  • Remdesivir (IV Therapy)
  • Molnupiravir (Oral)

Regardless of which oral therapeutic drugs may ultimately be included in project ‘test to treat’, only individuals at high risk for COVID-19 complications due to older age, obesity, or ongoing medical conditions such as lung, kidney, heart disease, or diabetes will most likely be eligible to participate in the program.

Related Content

Younger Males Should Wait Longer Between COVID-19 Vaccines Over Myocarditis Risk, CDC Advises. 4U Health. Updated February 28, 2022.

Omicron Name Used for Several Lineages of Coronavirus. 4U Health. Updated February 25, 2022.

N95 Masks Offer Better Protection Against COVID Omicron Variant Than Cloth Face Coverings, CDC Says. 4U Health. Updated February 24, 2022.

Saliva COVID Test Better Than Nasal Swabs To Detect Omicron, Study Says. 4U Health. Updated February 24, 2022.

About 4U Health

4U Health offers at-home lab testing to help you feel like your best self. Visit us at 4uHealth.com to learn about our COVID-19 Antibody Self-Collection At Home Test Kit, explore healthy living and wellness topics, and view our full at-home lab testing menu.

If you’re interested in hospital grade home PCR COVID test kits to detect COVID-19 (including Omicron and its other variants), check out 4U Health’s COVID-19 Active Infection Self-Collection Test. It’s approved for children 5+ and adults alike. For the timeliest results, we recommend having our “just-in-case” saliva kit stocked in your medicine cabinet so you can test on your terms. Overnight shipping is included and official digital results are typically within 24 hours of receipt by the lab.

Updated: March 2, 2022

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Younger Males Should Wait Longer Between COVID-19 Vaccines Over Myocarditis Risk, CDC Advises

Group of four young happy guys
COVID-19 Virus
Update on COVID-19 Vaccines

February 28, 2022 — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its vaccine recommendations on February 22 to say younger males age 12 to 39 should consider waiting longer between doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 mRNA vaccines to reduce the risk of myocarditis — an inflammation of the heart muscle.

“While absolute risk remains small”, some studies show “the relative risk for myocarditis is higher for males ages 12-39 years, and this risk might be reduced by extending the interval between the first and second dose,” the agency said. The CDC cited studies further showed in adolescents and adults alike, peak antibody responses and mRNA vaccine effectiveness may be increased with an interval longer than four weeks between the first and second doses. 

Howbeit, the shorter interval (three weeks for Pfizer-BioNTech and four weeks for Moderna) between the first and second doses of the mRNA vaccines remains the recommended interval for adults 65 years and older, people who are immunocompromised, and others at high risk for severe COVID-19 disease.

The updated guidance most notably affects younger not fully vaccinated males, those who have received one or fewer jabs. The CDC estimates by age group the following percentages of American males not fully vaccinated: 12 to 17yrs (45%), 18-24yrs (42%), 25-39yrs (37.6%).

Related Content

Omicron Name Used for Several Lineages of Coronavirus. 4U Health. Updated February 25, 2022.

N95 Masks Offer Better Protection Against COVID Omicron Variant Than Cloth Face Coverings, CDC Says. 4U Health. Updated February 24, 2022.

Saliva COVID Test Better Than Nasal Swabs To Detect Omicron, Study Says. 4U Health. Updated February 24, 2022.

About 4U Health

4U Health offers at-home lab testing to help you feel like your best self. Visit us at 4uHealth.com to learn about our COVID-19 Antibody Self-Collection At Home Test Kit, explore healthy living and wellness topics, and view our full at-home lab testing menu.

If you’re interested in hospital grade home PCR COVID test kits to detect COVID-19 (including Omicron and its other variants), check out 4U Health’s COVID-19 Active Infection Self-Collection Test. It’s approved for children 5+ and adults alike. For the timeliest results, we recommend having our “just-in-case” saliva kit stocked in your medicine cabinet so you can test on your terms. Overnight shipping is included and official digital results are typically within 24 hours of receipt by the lab.

Updated: February 28, 2022

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Majority of Healthy Americans Can Ditch Masks, per New CDC Guidelines

Happy woman taking off her medical face mask
COVID-19 Virus
Update on Coronavirus

February 27, 2022 — In response to the growing consensus that the Omicron coronavirus variant is more transmissible but causes less severe disease, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released on Friday a new framework for measuring community Covid-19 levels that focuses less on positive test results and more on hospital utilization rates.

The CDC will now report the amount of COVID-19 in a community at the county level as Low, Medium or High. The degree is determined on new COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 population during the past 7 days, the percent of utilized inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients along with total new COVID-19 infections per 100,000 people in the last 7 days.

The new framework significantly shifts the makeup of the CDC’s risk map. Now, according to the agency, more than 70 percent of Americans live in counties where SARS-CoV-2 poses a low or medium risk. Per the guidance, healthy individuals in low to medium risk counties do not need to wear a mask at indoor public settings.

People, including schoolchildren, are advised to wear masks where the risk level of COVID-19 is high. You can check out your local community COVID-19 Risk level here.

The updated CDC guidance does not change the rules requiring travelers to wear masks on public transportation and indoors at airports, bus stations and train stations.

Related Content

Omicron Name Used for Several Lineages of Coronavirus. 4U Health. Updated February 25, 2022.

N95 Masks Offer Better Protection Against COVID Omicron Variant Than Cloth Face Coverings, CDC Says. 4U Health. Updated February 24, 2022.

Saliva COVID Test Better Than Nasal Swabs To Detect Omicron, Study Says. 4U Health. Updated February 24, 2022.

About 4U Health

4U Health offers at-home lab testing to help you feel like your best self. Visit us at 4uHealth.com to learn about our COVID-19 Antibody Self-Collection At Home Test Kit, explore healthy living and wellness topics, and view our full at-home lab testing menu.

If you’re interested in hospital grade home PCR COVID test kits to detect COVID-19 (including Omicron and its other variants), check out 4U Health’s COVID-19 Active Infection Self-Collection Test. It’s approved for children 5+ and adults alike. For the timeliest results, we recommend having our “just-in-case” saliva kit stocked in your medicine cabinet so you can test on your terms. Overnight shipping is included and official digital results are typically within 24 hours of receipt by the lab.

Updated: February 27, 2022

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BA.2 Omicron Subvariant Apparently Does Not Make People More Sick, South African Researchers Say

Illustration of three covid omicron cells
COVID-19 Virus
Update on BA.2 Lineage of Omicron Variant

February 25, 2022 —  Worries that the BA.2 Omicron subvariant may cause more severe COVID-19 disease than the original BA.1 Omicron variant have been promulgated by a recent laboratory hamster study, but real-world data suggest that BA.2 isn’t more dangerous.

Among 3,058 patients who required hospitalization in South Africa for COVID-19 from December 1, 2021 thru January 20, 2022, a recently posted study found the hospitalization rates were 3.4% for those infected with original-Omicron BA.1 lineage and 3.6% for individuals with BA.2 infections. Moreover, severe COVID-19 disease was diagnosed in 33.5% of original-Omicron BA.1 patients and 30.5% of BA.2 patients. After reviewing the data, the South African researchers found that while BA.2 may have a competitive transmission advantage over BA.1 in some settings, the clinical profile of illness between the two lineages remains similar.

“By the end of January 2022, most COVID-19 infections were due to BA.2,” said Dr. Nicole Wolter of South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases. “We found that individuals that were infected with BA.2 did not have a higher risk of being admitted to hospital,” she said.

It should be noted however that because many people in South Africa had been formerly sick with earlier variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 disease, these South African findings may not be standard or reproducible in other countries with less background natural infection.

Equally important, in the four weeks after the collection period of the study (Dec. 2021 thru Jan. 20, 2022), data on worldometer for South Africa reports cases have apparently reached a relatively low plateau over the past month, but daily death counts are seemingly continuing to rise. Although deaths are a lagging indicator, if BA.2 is not more severe than Original BA.1 lineage, daily deaths should also soon begin to fall. For now, we will just have to wait and see.

Related Content

BA.2 Omicron Appears More Dangerous, Researchers Say. 4U Health. Updated February 19, 2022.

5 Reasons To Keep PCR Home COVID Test Kits on Hand. 4U Health. Updated December 6, 2021.

Ditch Nose Swabs for a Home Saliva PCR Covid Test Kit. 4U Health. Updated December 6, 2021.

About 4U Health

4U Health offers at-home lab testing to help you feel like your best self. Visit us at 4uHealth.com to learn about our COVID-19 Antibody Self-Collection At Home Test Kit, explore healthy living and wellness topics, and view our full at-home lab testing menu.

If you’re interested in hospital grade home PCR COVID test kits to detect COVID-19 (including Omicron and its other variants), check out 4U Health’s COVID-19 Active Infection Self-Collection Test. It’s approved for children 5+ and adults alike. For the timeliest results, we recommend having our “just-in-case” saliva kit stocked in your medicine cabinet so you can test on your terms. Overnight shipping is included and official digital results are typically within 24 hours of receipt by the lab.

Updated: February 25, 2022