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Be aware that at-home COVID-19 antigen tests are less accurate than molecular tests. COVID-19 antigen tests may not detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus early in an infection, meaning testing soon after you were exposed to someone with COVID-19 could lead to a false-negative result, especially if you don't have symptoms. Under the guidance of medical professionals, we tested 16 at-home COVID test kits in the Verywell Lab.
You get a result in 10 to 30 minutes depending on the type of rapid lateral flow test you’ve taken. The test kit instructions will tell you the time you need to wait before reading your result. Hundreds of tests have been approved to help detect and diagnose cases of COVID-19. While increased testing has helped control the spread of the virus, the accuracy of testing varies.
What if you test Positive?
It’s not that the tests no longer detect omicron and its subvariants but rather that they may be less sensitive in some cases, said Nadia Roan, an immunologist at UCSF. What that means, she said, is that for some tests, you may need more of the virus to be present in your nose or throat for the kit to register a positive reading. Which tests are less sensitive depends on which parts of the omicron virus they were designed to recognize. Three years into the coronavirus crisis, prevention measures such as mandatory masking and social distancing have largely been eliminated.
This is to prioritize people who have been exposed or are showing symptoms. Like other over-the-counter coronavirus tests, this one requires you to take a sample from your nasal passage using the sterile swab provided. Powered by Fulgent Genetics, the Picture COVID-19 nasal swab test is a nucleic acid amplification test . Once you’ve collected your sample, you’ll need to ship it back to the test provider as soon as possible, either by mail or at a designated drop-off location.
Are at-home COVID test kits still effective?
However, Congress didn’t renew funding for the program, so it was suspended on Sept. 2, 2022. PCR tests amplify the viral genetic material, which makes them more sensitive and thus more likely to be accurate. However, the added amplification step requires in-lab testing, which takes longer to process results. In testing, we found the Indicaid test to not only be gentler than most at-home kits but packaged in a way that reduces waste (since most components of a COVID test can’t be recycled except for the outer box).
If your test kit recommends serial testing, follow instructions for when to perform the second test. HHS also has established more than 10,000 free community-based pharmacy testing sites around the country. To respond to the Omicron surge, HHS and FEMA are creating surge testing sites in states across the nation.
Best for fast results
To start, each tester washed their hands thoroughly and then unpacked everything from the kit being tested. We opened the instructions and considered how easy they were to follow, making note of confusing directions and how often we needed to read them in order to understand the steps. As we performed each test, we evaluated how easy it was to use each individual component, such as solution vials and test cards.
If you’re experiencing severe symptoms, it’s best to seek emergency attention or go to an in-person facility. If you test negative and still feel symptoms, you may need to take another test. You could also have an alternative infection that may require a visit to your doctor.
The FDA has authorized both molecular and antigen COVID-19 diagnostic tests for home use. If you get a positive result on any repeat test with an at-home COVID-19 antigen test, you most likely have COVID-19 and should follow the CDC guidance for people with COVID-19. If you do not have COVID-19 symptoms and believe you have been exposed to COVID-19, test again 48 hours after the first negative test, then 48 hours after the second negative test, for a total of at least three tests. If you get a negative result on the second test, test again 48 hours after the second test. In an attempt to decrease the post-holiday surge in COVID cases, the Biden administration has reinstated the U.S. government's free at-home testing program.
When it comes to risk level for the virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Cook, Lake and Will counties are still at a "medium" community level, meaning masks are recommended for those at higher risk of illness. Along with testing, the Biden administration is also urging Americans to get their COVID-19 booster. Dr. Ashish Jha, White House’s COVID-19 coordinator, sat down withABC's "This Week"to emphasize the importance of getting the updated bivalent vaccine. How distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine exposes inequities in Florida’s health care system. But Gibson thinks that COVID at-home kits have empowered patients who want answers on their health status. If that demand becomes larger, there could be more than one kind of viral at-home test kit on store shelves one day.
More importantly, the accuracy of home COVID-19 tests usually depends more on when you test and whether or not you test according to the instructions. PCR tests are the most accurate type of COVID-19 test, but they are not perfect. Sometimes, a person who is sick will continue to test positive even when they are no longer capable of spreading the virus. Of course, if you are experiencing COVID symptoms, take a test immediately at home and if it’s negative, do it again in subsequent days. People who feel sick, regardless of test results, are advised to stay home to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses.
You will not need to seek reimbursement later for tests received through such a program. COVID-19 tests are also available without cost-sharing to covered individuals when administered by a health care provider like a nurse, doctor, or pharmacist, without limitation. Most PCR testing is done in a lab or healthcare facility, but you can also use the kits at home. Some manufacturers or labs offer kits that let you collect a sample at home for PCR testing, but you still need to send your sample to the lab for analysis before you will get the results. If you are not having symptoms but have been exposed to someone with COVID, PCR testing is the most effective at detecting the virus. Rapid tests are less accurate but will give you results more quickly.
The Biden-Harris Administration is purchasing 500 million at-home, over-the-counter tests to be distributed for free to Americans who want them, with the initial delivery starting in January 2022. There will be a website where all Americans can request at-home tests for home delivery—for free. Your plan is required to provide reimbursement for 8 tests per month for each individual on the plan, regardless of whether the tests are bought all at once or at separate times throughout the month.
If the first test was negative, you can confirm it with either a rapid test or a PCR test. If your COVID test is positive, you need to isolate yourself to avoid spreading the virus to others. If you get a negative rapid test but you have symptoms of COVID, you should isolate and get a PCR test. However, ongoing supply and demand problems in certain areas may cause the price to increase. For both types, you collect a sample from your nose or mouth with a swab or collect a sample of your saliva in a tube. An adjusted date means the manufacturer provided data showing the shelf-life is longer than was known when the test was first authorized, according to the FDA.
Studies to better understand at-home COVID-19 antigen test performance
Luckily, if you’re vaxxed and boosted, your chances of getting severely ill are extremely low, but testing is still important to help protect vulnerable populations. Order these rapid and PCR tests now so you're not caught off guard by the BA.2 variant. Maricopa County Public Health has partnered with schools to offer free at-home COVID-19 test kits for school staff, students, and families. Contact your local school to ask if they have free at-home kits available.
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