The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued authorization for the first antigen test to rapidly detect coronavirus, Quidel Corporation, a provider of rapid diagnostic testing solutions, said in a statement on Saturday.

These diagnostic checks detect fragments of proteins found on or within the virus by testing samples collected from the nasal cavity utilizing swabs. 

According to the statement, Quidel has received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the FDA to market its Sofia 2 SARS Antigen FIA, a rapid point-of-care test to be used for the rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2.