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Nov 21, 2023 · Intrivo On/Go COVID-19 Antigen Self-Test. Two tests, optional app. The Intrivo On/Go COVID-19 Antigen Self-Test (two tests per box), pairs with an optional app that walks you through testing ...
- Ellen Lee
- Overview
- What to know about at-home Covid tests before shopping
- How we picked the best at-home Covid tests
- The best FDA-authorized Covid rapid tests
- The best FDA-authorized Covid home collection tests
- Home collection tests versus rapid tests: Pros and cons
- Tips for using at-home Covid tests
- Meet our experts
- Why trust NBC Select?
Gone are the days of visiting a doctor’s office to get a Covid test — over-the-counter test kits diagnose infection from the comfort of your home, and you can throw them in your toiletry bag while traveling in case you start feeling ill.
While many at-home Covid test kits are currently in stock across online retailers and at pharmacies nationwide, don’t be surprised if getting your hands on a box soon becomes more challenging, says Omai Garner, PhD, director of clinical microbiology for the UCLA Health System and an associate clinical professor of pathology and laboratory medicine. Some parts of the U.S. are currently experiencing an uptick in cases, and with many concerned about new variants, he expects more people to start buying at-home Covid tests to feel prepared. Because of that, Garner says you may want to consider stocking up now before you have trouble finding test kits in the near future.
Using at-home Covid test kits is convenient, but these tests are generally less sensitive than tests performed by professionals in medical offices and need to be used judiciously, says Dr. Cole Beeler, medical director of infection prevention at the Indiana University Health University Hospital and an associate professor of clinical medicine at the IU School of Medicine. With that being said, it’s important to understand their benefits and limitations if you’re shopping for them.
To learn about different at-home Covid testing methods and how accurate each one is, we talked to doctors about how they work and who should use them. We also rounded up FDA-authorized test kits you can purchase right now.
SKIP AHEAD FDA-authorized rapid tests | FDA-authorized home collection tests | Home collection v.s. rapid tests | Tips for using at-home tests
•Best rapid test
There are two methods of at-home testing:
•Home collection tests: The test kit prompts you to collect a sample at home (a nose or throat swab) and send it to a lab. The lab then performs a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test on the sample, which is the best and most accurate type of diagnostic Covid test, and considered the “gold standard,” says Garner. You get your results online in a few days.
•Rapid tests: The test kit prompts you to collect a sample at home (a nose or throat swab) and you perform the test using provided materials. You get results in a few minutes, which is why these tests are often called “rapid tests.” You also may see rapid tests called self-tests, according to the CDC.
Both methods of at-home testing allow you to do diagnostic tests, which tell you if you’re actively infected with Covid. Diagnostic Covid tests fall into two buckets: molecular tests and antigen tests. The tests detect different parts of the Covid virus and vary in sensitivity.
•Molecular tests are more sensitive, meaning they require a lower amount of virus in a sample to detect a positive result. PCR tests are molecular tests.
•Antigen tests are less sensitive, meaning they require a higher amount of virus in a sample to detect a positive result.
While shopping for at-home Covid tests, experts recommend considering the following:
•FDA authorization: Experts say you should only buy at-home Covid tests that received FDA authorization, which should be noted somewhere on the product’s packaging. To double check authorization status and learn more about which models have been authorized, you can browse a list available on the FDA’s website — it’s separated by antigen and molecular diagnostic tests.
•Type: When deciding between buying a home collection or rapid test, think about how quickly you’ll need results. With home collection tests, you’ll have to wait a few days to get results. But as their name implies, you’ll get results in minutes from rapid tests. However, since they tend to be less sensitive than home collection tests, it’s advised that you serial test with rapid tests, which means that you perform a second test a few days after your first (more on serial testing below).
•Age: All Covid tests list minimum age restrictions, if there are any, on their packaging, which is especially important if you plan to use a kit with a child.
Below are some of the most widely available Covid home testing kits on the FDA-authorized list. They all require you to collect a nasal or saliva swab and perform the test yourself using provided materials.
One of the most important things to know about rapid tests is that they often come with two or more tests and recommend that you perform multiple tests a few days apart — this is called serial testing, according to the CDC. The FDA recommends repeat (serial) testing following a negative result from an at-home antigen test whether or not you have symptoms. This is because on the first day you perform an at-home test, it might not be able to detect low levels of the virus and you may get a false negative, even if you’re symptomatic, says Dr. Sharon Nachman, chief of the division chief of pediatric infectious diseases at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital.
Pixel by Labcorp COVID-19 PCR Test Home Collection Kit
Pixel by Labcorp COVID-19 PCR Test Home Collection Kit $79.00 Result time: 24 to 48 hours after the sample arrives at the lab | Age range: 2 years old and above | Sample type: Nasal
Picture by Fulgent Genetics COVID-19 Test
Picture by Fulgent Genetics COVID-19 Test $119.00 Result time: Within 48 hours of the sample arriving to the lab | Age range: 4 years old and above | Sample type: Nasal
Let’s Get Checked COVID-19 Test
Let’s Get Checked COVID-19 Test $109.00 Result time: Within 24 to 72 hours of the sample arriving to the lab | Age range: 2 years old and above | Sample type: Nasal
The two at-home Covid testing methods — home collection kits and rapid tests— are similar in that they can diagnose infection and are performed on either nose or throat swabs. From there, the methods differ, and experts say those differences determine how reliable tests are, as well as how you should use them. We broke both testing methods down and...
Each test kit is different and requires its own specific set of procedures, so it’s crucial to read the directions before taking a sample, says Dr. Sharon Nachman, chief of the division chief of pediatric infectious diseases at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital and a professor of pediatrics at Stony Brook’s Renaissance School of Medicine. "It sounds silly to say, but reading the directions carefully is actually quite critical to do,” she says.
When you get your results from home collection or rapid tests, they’re simply reported to you, not explained, says Nachman. Because of this, it’s important to call your primary care doctor — especially if you test positive — to understand how to proceed. “At-home tests are geared to get the information to you with the idea that you’re going to call for a helping hand to deal with the results, particularly if there’s a positive result,” she says.
Frequently asked questions
Beyond their convenience, the benefit of at-home Covid tests is that they allow people to get tested frequently, which can lead to catching more infections and, in turn, decrease spread, says Beeler.
Changes in Covid variants have not made at-home tests any less sensitive, so they continue to be a great diagnostic tool, says Garner. But since you're collecting the sample for a test or performing the test entirely by yourself, testing for Covid at home is generally less reliable compared to getting tested by professionals in a medical office, experts told us. Because of this, if you have a high-risk exposure and/or are symptomatic despite testing negative at home, it still may be worthwhile to get a formal test done by a medical professional, says Beeler.
So are at-home testing methods reliable? The answer is complicated and often comes down to who is being tested, when the test takes place and what type of test is being used, says Nachman.
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
•Dr. Omai Garner, PhD, is the director of clinical microbiology for the UCLA Health System and an associate clinical professor of pathology and laboratory medicine.
•Dr. Cole Beeler is the medical director of infection prevention at the Indiana University Health University Hospital and an associate professor of clinical medicine at the IU School of Medicine.
•Dr. Sharon Nachman is chief of the division chief of pediatric infectious diseases at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital and a professor of pediatrics at Stony Brook’s Renaissance School of Medicine.
Zoe Malin is an associate updates editor at NBC Select who has covered Covid since 2020. In addition to at-home Covid tests, she’s also written about disposable masks, KN95 masks, N95 masks, KN95 masks for kids and vaccine card holders. For this article, Malin spoke to three experts about how to shop for and use at-home Covid tests.
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Nov 1, 2023 · Alternative Brand Names: CVS Health At Home COVID-19 Test Kit and Walgreens At-Home COVID-19 Test Ket; Results in 10 minutes; Shelf Life: 16 months; SD Biosensor, Inc.: Pilot COVID-19 At-Home Test 1.
Jan 20, 2022 · Supplying your information is voluntary, but if not provided, we may not be able to fulfill your request for a COVID-19 Testing Kit. We do not disclose your information to third parties without your consent, except to act on your behalf or request, or as legally required.
Sep 26, 2023 · iHealth Covid-19 Antigen Rapid Test for $18. Amazon iHealth. The iHealth Covid-19 kit comes with a nasal swab, solution, and a test card. After collecting your sample and soaking it in the ...
May 2, 2024 · The iHealth COVID-19 Antigen Rapid test comes with two nasal tests per kit, which each contain a swab, solution, solution vessel, and the test unit. These two high-quality COVID tests offer great value, costing just under $20. This rapid test requires minimal steps and gives results within a 15 minute window.
Apr 18, 2023 · The Lucira Check It COVID-19 Test Kit is sold by Nurx, an online company that specializes in providing affordable prescription treatments, such as birth control, STI kits, and migraine treatments.
