The days of hours-long lines to get tested for COVID-19 before a trip or wedding are over, but the virus hasn’t gone away. It continues to spread and mutate, and a new subvariant or a particularly contagious wave of infections could mean a surge in demand for testing. Thankfully, the accuracy and accessibility of at-home tests have only improved since the pandemic began. Now there are plenty of choices.
Most at-home COVID-19 antigen tests use a nose swab, liquid solution, and a developing card to gauge infection after 10-15 minutes. 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.
Antigen tests tend to be most accurate when a person is symptomatic or has a lot of the virus in their system already. They can be less accurate early on in an infection or right after exposure. Emily Volk, President of the College of American Pathologists emphasized that it’s important to view the test tests within one’s individual circumstances.
What the Experts Say About At-Home COVID-19 Test Kits
“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. “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. Volk recommends a laboratory PCR test for the most accurate and reliable results.
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When it comes to testing, you also have to decide what question you’re trying to answer, said Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. 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.
Regardless of motivation or circumstances, though, following the instructions for the at-home test is critical,, said Dr. Volk. 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. “That’s obviously going to negatively impact the accuracy of any results,” she said.
Below 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.
BinaxNOW COVID-19 Antigen Self Test
This BinaxNOW test is similar to the one above but doesn’t require you to use the trained proctor and doesn’t come with an app for sending along the results. The wait is quick though, only 15 minutes, approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and comes with two sets of testing equipment (swabs, dropper bottles, test cards).
Who It’s For: Anyone who needs a quick, relatively straightforward test.
Why We Chose It: It’s widely used and comes with clear instructions.
There’s More: This test (and the others) may be FSA/HSA eligible.
On/Go COVID-19 Antigen Self-Test Kit with Test-to-Treat App
If you need to know now whether you’re positive or not, the aptly named On/Go is your test. It delivers results in around 10 minutes, about five minutes faster than other tests on the market. It also comes with illustrated instructions, but be prepared for aggressively small fonts.
Who It’s For: Anyone who needs results quickly or is testing people en masse (think: a group weekend getaway).
Why We Chose It: You have better uses for your time than waiting around for results.
There’s More: On/Go also has a companion mobile phone app.
InteliSwab COVID-19 Rapid Test
If you last touched a test tube in high school chemistry class and would like to keep it that way, you want the InteliSwab COVID-19 test. It only requires you to open the tube, swab your nose, and then insert the tube into the testing vial — no mixing required.
Who It’s For: People who struggle with dexterity or otherwise want a mechanically simple process to follow.
Why We Chose It: The more steps you add to the process, the more room for error.
There’s More: You can use the InteliSwab on anyone who’s two years or older.
iHealth COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test
At $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. It also comes with an app to help you manage a small group’s results.
Who It’s For: People who are looking for a good deal or need to buy tests for a large number of people.
Why We Chose It: It’s accurate, simple, and won’t break the bank.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Face Masks for Omicron
Can I still get a free test from the government?
No. The program stopped accepting orders after disturbing over 755 million tests. However, uninsured and underserved communities can still get COVID tests through other outreach programs. You can find more information at covid.gov.
Do I need to worry about tests expiring?
Yes. Just like masks, at-home tests have an expiration date. According to the FDA, the shelf life of some tests is as little as four months. For others, it’s as high as 22 months, so it’s worth checking the dates on tests you may have in storage. “I know that sounds like a lot of work to go through, but I think these steps are important when you’re talking about your health,” said Dr. Volk.
Will at-home tests be able to detect new subvariants of COVID?
It’s difficult to say. Because the virus is constantly mutating as it’s transmitted between people (and between people and animals), scientists can’t predict its trajectory with full certainty. However, preliminary studies from the FDA do support the idea that new subvariants present a challenge for existing tests, and the agency’s website maintains a list of the tests whose performance may be impacted by mutations like Omicron.