Since the beginning of the pandemic, obtaining accurate COVID-19 testing has been an important step in tracking and limiting the spread of the virus. Now that the Omicron variant has arrived in the United States, this is still the case. President Joe Biden even announced on December 2 that individuals with private insurance who purchase COVID testing at home will be reimbursed, thereby reducing some of the financial burden.
In the past, COVID testing required scheduling appointments or waiting in a laboratory or pharmacy, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued multiple emergency use authorizations (EUAs) for some home kits. This allows people to perform certain tests on their own and read the results on their own, without having to send samples to a laboratory or require healthcare professionals to decipher them.
Emergency authorization means that these tests meet the standards set by the FDA during a public health emergency and are authorized to be used at home when necessary. Although face-to-face testing is still recommended when possible (as is also required for international travel), a quick test at home is an additional measure you can take to help determine whether you have been exposed to the virus.
Related: How to test for COVID at home and what to do if the test is positive
According to Yale University, the most accurate method to detect active coronavirus infection is through PCR testing, which is currently not available at home. However, rapid antigen testing, such as the FDA-authorized COVID test at home, is faster, easier to administer, and still tends to obtain accurate results.
Amesh A. Adalja, MD, a senior scholar and infectious disease expert at the Johns Hopkins University Health Safety Center, told Health in August: "For people with symptoms, home testing is quite accurate."
It is worth noting that not all home COVID test kits have been authorized by the FDA-only a few meet the requirements for emergency use authorization. Because false-positive or false-negative test results can lead to misdiagnosis and delay the proper treatment of someone’s symptoms, you must only use FDA-authorized tests. Visit the FDA website to learn about the latest EUA and guidelines.
Related: The FDA has recalled more than 2 million Ellume home Covid test kits due to false positive results-this is what you need to know
You can purchase in-home COVID-19 test kits in person or online from pharmacies and retail stores (including Walgreens, CVS, and even Amazon). These tests are designed to detect if you are infected with an active coronavirus and should show your results within a few minutes. Read on to learn more about some of the most popular home COVID tests that have received emergency FDA authorization.
The BinaxNOW nasal swab test can detect active coronavirus infection and show a positive or negative result in just 15 minutes. In addition to the original SARS-CoV-2 virus, this home rapid antigen test can also detect the Delta and Omicron strains of the virus, and is equipped with everything you need for two self-tests. Walgreens pharmacists recommend two tests within three days, with at least 36 hours waiting between each self-test.
Purchase: BinaxNOW COVID-19 antigen self-test, $24; walgreens.com
The nasal swab test comes with a disposable nasal swab, a buffer tube and a disposable cassette for reading and displaying the results. The accompanying instructions will guide you through the self-administered test, and the product can be used for adults and children under 2 years of age. In October, the FDA announced that FlowFlex does not require continuous testing like some other rapid antigen tests, which means you do not need to perform multiple tests within a few days to get accurate results.
Purchase: FlowFlex COVID-19 Antigen Home Test, $10; walgreens.com
The shallow swab design in this home rapid antigen test has fewer stabs than other FDA-authorized models, but it can still detect SARS-CoV-2 infection in both symptomatic and asymptomatic people. The test is authorized for people 15 years and older and involves wiping the insides of two nostrils, spinning them in a test tube, and reading the results after 30 minutes. If the test result is negative, you need to take a second test 24 to 36 hours after the first test to ensure accurate results.
Purchase: InteliSwab COVID-19 rapid antigen test, US$2 and US$25; Walmart.com
The QuickVue test at home is designed to detect the COVID-19 protein in your body, whether you have symptoms or not. Similar to other self-administered COVID tests, you will follow the instructions to wipe both nostrils, then rotate the swab in the solution tube, and then insert the test strip into the tube. The QuickVue test takes 10 minutes to show your results; if your test result is negative, please test again after 24 to 48 hours to confirm the result.
Purchase: QuickVue Rapid Home COVID-19 Antigen Test Kit, US$2 and US$24; walgreens.com
The BD Veritor Home COVID-19 Antigen Test has an app that guides you through the test, which simplifies the entire process and helps eliminate user errors. The app has easy-to-follow instructions and operating videos to prevent you from getting confused during the process. In addition, the app will display positive or negative test results in text, which is different from other home tests, which only display faint colored lines to indicate your results.
Purchase: BD Veritor home COVID-19 test, $27 (original price $40); Amazon website
In November, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the CareStart home COVID test kit to be used at home, which comes with two test boxes, nasal swabs, reagent bottles, and bottle caps. Individuals 14 years and older can take this test on their own, and adults can take the test on children as young as 2 years old. For the test, you will follow the accompanying instructions to wipe your nose, mix the solution, and then squeeze a few drops of the solution onto the test tray. The CareStart Antigen Home Test can show your results within 10 minutes.
Purchase: Access Bio CareStart Antigen Home Test, US$2 and US$16; target website