GNC recently announced that it is now offering the first FDA EUA (emergency use authorization) at-home COVID-19 saliva test online, in partnership with Testing as a Service (TaaS) company 1health, in an attempt to exponentially increase access to COVID-19 testing across the U.S., while simultaneously providing personalized wellness, exercise, and nutrition plans through its consumer brand Vitagene. The testing kits are now available at GNC.com and GNC4U.com.
 
“Our mission is to support our consumers’ desires to live well and meet their individual health and wellness needs,” Ryan Ostrom, GNC’s chief brand officer, said. “Through GNC4U, we’re committed to helping people take control of their personal health journeys by providing them with tailored solutions. With so many organizations requiring tests for various reasons including traveling or playing sports even if individuals aren’t experiencing symptoms, it became obvious that consumers were looking for an easy and accurate take home testing option. As an authority in the health and wellness space, we felt it was our responsibility to offer a quality solution and quickly partnered with the team at 1health to deliver that to our customers.”
 
Earlier this year, 1health brought to market the first FDA EUA COVID-19 saliva test in partnership with IBX. GNC reports that the test has a greater than 99% sensitivity and specificity based on available data.
 
“We’ve always aimed to make testing easy and accessible for everyone,” Mehdi Maghsoodnia, CEO of 1health, said. “Now, working with GNC, we are able to provide at-home COVID-19 tests through the largest global specialty retailer of nutritional products in the U.S. This allows us to widen our scope and increase access to testing for wellness-minded consumers. WE are thrilled to be working closely with best-in-class wellness experts at GNC, bringing testing to those who want to stay proactive about their health to protect themselves and others during this pandemic.” 
 
The self-administered tests can be taken anywhere and offer a simple process for those who need access to trusted test results quickly. Saliva is collected in a tube, sealed with reagents, and shipped to a qualified lab in a secure envelope. Test results are delivered digitally to the person within 48 hours of the lab receiving the sample, and if the result is positive, it is reported to appropriate authorities. Consumers’ unused test kits may be stored for up to 12 months.