Louisiana is handing out up to 250,000 free at home immune health test kits, inviting residents 13 and older to check their immune related profile with nothing more than four taste strips and a smartphone app. State leaders say the statewide rollout is designed to beef up preventive care and generate population level data that can guide future public health planning.
The Louisiana Department of Health and Baton Rouge based biotech company Phenomune announced the program Thursday, saying residents can request kits online or pick them up through clinics and community organizations, according to New Orleans CityBusiness. In a press release distributed via PR Newswire, Gov. Jeff Landry said, "Louisiana is taking a bold step to lead on preventive health by putting science backed tools directly into the hands of our people." Officials say results are private, and participants choose whether to share them with a health care provider.
How the taste test works
Each kit comes with four taste strips and a QR code that launches a guided assessment in the Phenomune app. Users place each strip on the tongue, then record how intense the taste feels, which the app uses to generate a personalized report, according to Phenomune. State officials and the company say the method requires no lab work or biological specimens and produces results within minutes, which they say can help jump start quick conversations between patients and clinicians.
What the science says
Phenomune points to peer reviewed research that links bitter taste receptor function to aspects of respiratory immunity. A JAMA Network Open paper led by Phenomune founder Dr. Henry Barham analyzed 1,935 participants and found that phenotypic taste profiles correlated with COVID 19 outcomes, according to JAMA Network Open. The study also discloses Barham's prior financial interest in an early prototype of the test.
Who can get a kit and how providers are involved
Residents ages 13 and older are eligible to request a no cost kit, and health systems, clinics, nursing homes and federally qualified health centers can order supplies for their patient populations, New Orleans CityBusiness reported. Phenomune says its clinical outreach team will work with providers to fold the testing into routine care, positioning the results as a jumping off point for preventive health discussions.
Privacy and regulatory limits
Program materials from the state and the company say results stay confidential and are shareable only if a participant chooses. The company also includes a standard disclaimer that its statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, as noted in the program announcement on PR Newswire. Officials are urging residents to treat the kit as an informational tool and to seek follow up care from clinicians for diagnosis or treatment when symptoms or concerns arise.
How to get a kit
Residents can request a kit through Phenomune's online portal, then follow step by step instructions in the app to complete the taste assessment and view results, according to Phenomune. The state says the rollout will focus on broad access, including outreach in rural and underserved communities.
