Reno-based Flirtey testing drone delivery of at-home COVID-19 tests

A Reno-based drone startup has partnered with a health care tech company to offer drone delivery of at-home COVID-19 test kits.

Flirtey Partners and Vault Health say they hope this will reduce exposure risk and make COVID-19 testing more convenient.

“Drone delivery of COVID-19 test kits is faster than traditional mail, enabling faster results for the customer and reducing the time where a person may have the potential to spread COVID-19 by 24-48 hours,” said Flirtey Founder and CEO Matthew Sweeny in a prepared statement. 

The drones would deliver the first FDA-authorized saliva test for COVID-19, according to a Flirtey press release. Vault Health distributes a COVID-19 saliva test kit that can be used at home while under video call supervision from a health professional, according to the company. 

The Vault Health COVID-19 Test Kits have been added to Flirtey’s existing drone delivery test program underway in the Reno area.

Flirtey started routine drone delivery demonstrations last December at the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center just east of Reno-Sparks. The 107,000-acre industrial center is most well-known as the site of the Tesla Gigafactory. It also hosts more than 100 companies, including Walmart, Home Depot, Switch and Google.

The announcement by Flirtey and Vault Health comes as Nevada, like much of the U.S., is seeing a surge of COVID-19 cases and related deaths.

Flirtey says that use of its drones for delivery will help provide testing access to those who don't live close to on-site testing locations. 

Through the partnership, Vault Health will send testing kits to distribution centers based on historical market demand data. When someone places an order, a Flirtey drone will then bring the COVID test kit to their home. 

“Our shipping and result turnaround time is already fast, but working with Flirtey to make on-demand drone delivery of COVID-19 saliva test kits available will make it faster than ever," said Jason Feldman, founder and CEO of Vault Health in a prepared statement. "We will help everyone worrying about their infection status find their answer.”

Flirtey made waves in 2015 after conducting the first drone delivery approved by the Federal Aviation Administration. The company also scored a coup when it was picked as one of 10 successful applicants for a federal program that fast-tracked drone testing.

Learn more about the two companies by visiting www.flirtey.com and www.vaulthealth.com 

The RGJ's Jason Hidalgo contributed to this report. 

Chelcey Adami is the visuals and breaking news editor at the Reno Gazette Journal. She can be reached at cadami@gannett.com and 831-277-8763. To support local journalism like this, please subscribe.