Drone deliveries of at-home COVID-19 test kits (Video)

Flirtey, Vault Health have successfully delivered at-home saliva-based test kits, carried by Flirtey Eagle delivery drone.

In November 2020, Flirtey and Vault Health announced a partnership to test drone delivery of the at-home saliva based COVID-19 test. Using Flirtey’s drones to deliver the test kits to homes helps eliminate exposure risks and creates further convenience, especially for those who don’t live in close proximity to on-site testing locations.

The test kits were carried by a Flirtey Eagle delivery drone, which autonomously hovered and lowered the test kits using Flirtey’s delivery mechanism. As shown in the video released by Flirtey and Vault Health, the Flirtey Eagle delivery drone enabled safe delivery of the packages into the backyard of a residential area in Northern Nevada. Once the packages were delivered, the local residents accessed a secure video call with a health professional to supervise their saliva sample collection for the COVID-19 test. Drone delivery of the test kits was faster than traditional mail, reducing the shipping process by up to 48 hours, which could lead to quicker results and reduce risk of asymptomatic spread.