Texas diagnostic company will have 30,000 coronavirus home testing kits ready by Monday

A company in Austin, Texas, announced that it will have 30,000 coronavirus home testing kits available by Monday, a significant breakthrough in addressing the widespread shortage of testing in the U.S., according to the Austin American-Statesman.

Who's responsible? The tests are from a company called Everlywell, a medical diagnostics company based in Austin that just last week put up $1 million of incentives to spur progress toward creating home testing solutions.

The company's capacity to offer more tests could expand significantly in the coming weeks.

"We plan to eventually have testing and diagnosis capacity for a quarter of a million people weekly. However, this process will take several weeks and could take a few months," an Everlywell statement said.

How do you get one? The tests will only be available in the United States. The first step is for patients to fill out a questionnaire on the Everlywell website, part of a screening process designed by the CDC.

The price of the test is currently $135, although Everlywell is reportedly working with the federal government toward a goal of offering the test at no cost. The company will reportedly make no profit on the tests.

"Given the momentum in Congress about providing free coronavirus testing for Americans, we want to do everything we can to make this test free," Everlywell founder Julia Cheek told the Statesman.

How does it work? Patients collect their swab sample at home and then give it to a government-certified lab. They can then receive their results in two days through a telemedicine visit.

U.S. testing shortage: While President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence assured reporters Friday that the availability of tests is improving, Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said although progress has been made, there is more that needs to be done and supply is not yet meeting demand.