Cue Health Cue Reader Review: Accurate and Expensive Covid-19 Test Kit | Intellect Tech

i attempted a dozen dwelling Covid checks prior to now 12 months. If it is on the shelf of a drugstore, pharmacy, or grocery retailer, you have in all probability used it just a few instances. However each time I open a take a look at like BinaxNow or QuickVue, I maintain on the lookout for the instruction guide, largely out of worry of getting an important step improper. It has been a continuing reminder of why I favor utilizing Cue Well being’s Cue Reader diagnostic instrument over another dwelling take a look at. It is freed from tubes, options, cassettes and take a look at strips.

I wasn’t all the time a fan of this Covid-19 take a look at equipment. Final 12 months, I initially stopped recommending it on account of its jaw-dropping beginning worth of $444, which has since dropped to $394 (and nonetheless costly). it simply felt improper throughout a pandemic when thousands and thousands of individuals had been dropping their jobs and slicing bills on account of unpredictable instances. It was a lot smarter to spend about $25 on a house take a look at (half of which was coated by insurance coverage) and obtain eight free checks per thirty days. Additionally, there was all the time the choice of taking a free Covid take a look at at a neighborhood testing website.

Nevertheless, the Biden administration has suspended its free dwelling COVID testing program on account of lack of funding from Congress. Federal funds free of charge Covid testing places and partial insurance coverage protection for at-home testing (along with free vaccines and drugs) are additionally operating low. This might imply that restocking your provide at dwelling could turn into costlier within the coming months. All of the sudden investing in a Cue Reader does not really feel so far-fetched.

A compact and quick machine

Pictures: Cue Well being

Cue Well being’s dwelling take a look at facilities round a small hub known as the Cue Reader, which might detect the genetic materials of a virus. Generally known as a molecular take a look at, it’s usually extra correct than an antigen (also referred to as a fast take a look at) and akin to a polymerase chain response (PCR) take a look at, with the flexibility to determine small traces of SARS-CoV-2 earlier, doubtlessly even a day or two earlier than you begin to really feel any signs. That may be important in terms of stopping the unfold of the virus. Cue says his take a look at has an accuracy price of 97.8 % (simply behind the single-use Lucira dwelling molecular take a look at, which the corporate says is 98 % correct). In accordance with this impartial examine, Cue’s dwelling molecular take a look at additionally demonstrated 99.4% accuracy in comparison with laboratory PCR checks.

The Cue Reader is compact and does not look ugly. I maintain it on my desk, however I can even see it resting on an entry desk or kitchen counter. It is usually straightforward to journey with. I threw it in my baggage once I went to California final summer time, however I additionally maintain it in my bag once I go dwelling to go to my mother and father. It is rechargeable, so you do not have to fret about changing batteries (I simply maintain it plugged in at my desk).

My favourite factor about this method is testing, one thing I by no means thought I might say. Sure, you continue to must swab your nostrils, however the remainder may be very straightforward and does not really feel like a science experiment. There aren’t any resolution tubes. As a substitute, Cue Reader handles all the things. It really works by way of Bluetooth, so you will want a smartphone to make use of the Reader, nevertheless it’s straightforward to arrange. Obtain the app, create an account and pair the Cue Reader along with your telephone. While you’re able to take a take a look at, open the app to see a walkthrough of every step. There are so few steps that it is easy to memorize, no instruction guide wanted.

The Reader comes with just a few cartridges, and identical to you’ll push it Tremendous Mario world on the Tremendous Nintendo leisure system, you should first push one in every of these cartridges into the participant and watch for it to heat up. As soon as the app says the cartridge is prepared, clear your nostril with the included wand and insert it into the cartridge. That’s all! After 20 minutes, you possibly can examine your outcomes in your telephone and, if essential, ship the leads to PDF format by way of e mail or textual content message. Cleansing can also be a breeze, although maybe simply as wasteful as different dwelling kits: take away the cartridge from the reader and eliminate it.