Amorana: from sextoy shop to corona self-diagnosis provider

Was it already infected? Identifying a coronavirus disease is not easy. The course of the disease often differs, different symptoms can be signs of an illness. You can only be sure if you let yourself be tested.

The Amorana online store has recently started offering an immunity test. This test can be used to detect antibodies in the blood. If present, it can be assumed that the person examined was infected with the coronavirus.

“The immunity test is very well received by our clients,” says Amorana co-founder Alan Frei (38). “We sold around 300 tests in the first hours.” Meanwhile, there are up to 80 tests a day that end in the shopping cart.

Frei also sent the test home. “A few weeks ago, I had the feeling that my taste buds were no longer intact. I didn’t have any other symptoms, but I just want to be sure, ”he explains. “One of our employees was convinced that he had the corona virus. At the time, it was quarantined for ten days. But now the test was negative, she was never infected.

Anyone requesting an Amorana antibody test will receive a blood collection kit. Contains, among other things, lancets, a microtainer tube, bandages, alcohol wipes, and instructions for drawing blood with your finger.

With the help of a lancet, you should draw blood from your finger. This blood sample should be sent to a Swissmedic certified laboratory and can be safe in one or two days. “With the result, the customer receives a laboratory report and not just a negative or positive message,” explains Frei.

Important: This is not a quick test. The ELISA test used is a CE / IVD certified test. The same test procedure is also used by other laboratories in Switzerland, such as Medica, Medics, Risch, etc. for samples of medical practices.

The specificity of the antibody test is currently> 99.5 percent and the sensitivity is 100 percent, based on patient measurements 14 days or more after symptoms have resolved.

Important: The antibody test cannot detect an acute infection and is not intended for the diagnosis of people who are currently ill. It can provide reliable results at least two weeks after the onset of symptoms and at least four weeks after a suspected infection. Keep in mind that for all viral infections, 5-10 percent of the population does not form antibodies after infection or vaccination. This also applies to COVID-19.

Amorana has been steadily expanding its range in the areas of sexual wellness and health products for over two years. You can buy pregnancy tests, automatic tests for HIV or other venereal diseases through the portal. “We want to be away from the classic provider of sex toys and a platform for sexuality, wellness and sexual care,” explains Frei.

With the onset of the coronavirus crisis, Amorana has adjusted the product line again. “We also sell disinfectants and hygiene masks and would like to use the immunity test to help ease the burden on hospitals and medical practices,” says Frei.