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Insight follows announcement that the Biden administration will purchase 500 million rapid COVID-19 tests and distribute free of cost to Americans

FREDERICK, Md. and BRISBANE, Australia , Dec. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- With the holiday season upon us and Omicron infections rising as it quickly becomes the dominant variant around the globe, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic adds another layer of uncertainty for consumers who are trying to determine the best way to keep themselves and their families safe as they consider traveling to visit loved ones, often for the first time since the pandemic began.

Along with vaccination, masks, social distancing and other precautions, at-home COVID-19 antigen tests continue to be an important part of that safety calculation. In fact, accessibility to at-home tests is a key element of today's announcement by the Biden Administration aimed at supporting better detection and prevention of COVID-19 this winter. Add in the annual flu season, which experts predict may be worse than usual, and at-home testing will provide more clarity to individuals, as the flu and COVID share many similar symptoms.

Today we received good news with the Biden administration announcement that they plan to purchase 500 million rapid COVID-19 tests and distribute them free of cost to Americans. There are now multiple at-home testing products available from which consumers can choose. The difficulty that comes with this influx of new products is determining which product best serves consumers and their families is more confusing than ever.

"People are eager to return to a sense of pre-COVID normalcy after spending last year's holiday season separated from their families and friends. But they are also understandably anxious, particularly with the arrival of the Omicron variant, to make sure they're doing everything they can to protect their families during those holiday gatherings – including stocking up on at-home COVID tests to help everyone stay safe while they're together. The difficulty is knowing which at-home test to choose, each with important differences that aren't always immediately obvious or easy to decipher," said Dr. Sean Parsons , Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ellume.

Parsons continued, "Together with public health officials and our colleagues in the medical community, Ellume is committed to providing education to consumers as they seek to better understand their options for regular at-home COVID testing. Understanding the available options serves to help us all enjoy this long-awaited holiday season safely."

WHAT CONSUMERS SHOULD KNOW WHEN CONSIDERING AT-HOME COVID ANTIGEN TESTS:

What are the differences between lab-based molecular tests (PCR) and rapid home antigen tests?

What should I look for as I'm comparing at-home rapid antigen tests?

A RECAP - THE ELLUME COVID-19 HOME TEST: In developing its Ellume COVID-19 Home Test (ECHT), Ellume took a different approach than many other products on the market – one that provides increased sensitivity without the cost, complexity and accessibility issues of a laboratory-based molecular (PCR) test. The ECHT was the first rapid home antigen test clinically proven for use with and without symptoms and continues to be one of the only rapid antigen tests approved for both – with sensitivity (ability to detect a positive case) and specificity (ability to determine a negative case) rates higher than other antigen home tests currently on the market. The ECHT is also the only test that uses fluorescent technology, a detection technology otherwise used by healthcare professionals, which provides superior sensitivity. The test's swab/dropper format employs slightly deeper swab collection, offering the best compromise between sample quality and patient usability/acceptance. Utilizing an app that guides the user through the test steps and displays the results within 15 minutes, the ECHT also includes a sample integrity control system to minimize the risk of false negative results.

ABOUT ELLUME Ellume is a digital diagnostics company that develops, manufactures, and commercializes high-performance, connected products for healthcare professionals and consumers. It is at the forefront of accurate, rapid and accessible testing that is integral to today's COVID-19 response and will help ensure the world is prepared for the next infectious disease pandemic. Ellume's key focus is on the detection of common infectious diseases which affect the global population across all diagnostic settings; at-home, point-of-care and in-laboratory. Ellume has a partnership with global diagnostic company QIAGEN for the detection of COVID-19 and Tuberculosis (TB), as well as a range of professional-use products under its ellume·lab brand. Ellume is committed to developing high-quality digital diagnostics that the world can rely on in a health crisis.

Further information can be found at ellumehealth.com.

U.S. Media Inquiries Seven Letter for Ellume E: [email protected] M: +1 202-315-2386

Australian Media Inquiries Patrick Condren , Ellume E: [email protected] M: +61 405 186 630

1 Hafer, N. (2021, November 8 ). What's the difference between a PCR and antigen COVID-19 test? A molecular biologist explains. The Conversation. Retrieved December 20, 2021 , from https://theconversation.com/whats-the-difference-between-a-pcr-and-antigen-covid-19-test-a-molecular-biologist-explains-170917 2 Ibid., 3 Templet, V. (2021, August 16 ). Why flocked swabs provide superior specimen collection. Why Flocked Swabs Provide Superior Specimen Collection. Retrieved December 20, 2021 , from https://blog.puritanmedproducts.com/bid/314046/why-flocked-swabs-provide-superior-specimen-collection 4 Ibid.,

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