![]() ![]() ![]() Just like masks, at-home tests have an expiration date. However, uninsured and underserved communities can still get COVID tests through other outreach programs. ![]() The program stopped accepting orders after disturbing over 755 million tests. There’s More: The FDA has extended the shelf life for iHealth tests from 6 months to 15 months, so they can be purchased in bulk without concern they’ll expire too quickly.įrequently Asked Questions About Face Masks for OmicronĬan I still get a free test from the government? Why We Chose It: It’s accurate, simple, and won’t break the bank. Who It’s For: People who are looking for a good deal or need to buy tests for a large number of people. It also comes with an app to help you manage a small group’s results. MOST AFFORDABLE iHealth COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test Buy Now On AmazonĪt $18 for two testing kits, iHealth is one of the cheapest at-home kits on the market but still provides reliable results and comes with relatively straightforward instructions. IHealth COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test against white background “That’s obviously going to negatively impact the accuracy of any results,” she said.īelow are over-the-counter COVID-19 tests that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration and recommended by SPY editors after consultation with our experts. Common mistakes are not doing the steps in order, not waiting long enough before interpreting your results, and putting the droplets on the developing card before you swab your nose. Regardless of motivation or circumstances, though, following the instructions for the at-home test is critical, said Dr. In other words, are you worried that you’ve contracted COVID-19, or are you nervous about potentially getting someone else sick? “It’s important to remember that there are other viruses out there, like strep throat,” he said. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. When it comes to testing, you also have to decide what question you’re trying to answer, said Dr. Volk recommends a laboratory PCR test for the most accurate and reliable results. “If someone else has a similar set of circumstances and they get a negative test, I would not stop at that at-home test to get the all clear.” Dr. “For a patient who is symptomatic, has been exposed to someone who has COVID-19, and gets a positive result with an at-home test, I think they can rest assured that they most likely have COVID-19,” she said. What the Experts Say About At-Home COVID-19 Test Kits Emily Volk, President of the College of American Pathologists emphasized that it’s important to view the test tests within one’s individual circumstances. They can be less accurate early on in an infection or right after exposure. They detect certain kinds of protein from the virus as opposed to molecular polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests which detect if there’s RNA from the virus present.Īntigen tests tend to be most accurate when a person is symptomatic or has a lot of the virus in their system already. Most at-home COVID-19 antigen tests use a nose swab, liquid solution, and a developing card to gauge infection after 10-15 minutes. ![]()
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