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To test or not to test – that is still the COVID-19 question. And if you’re in a situation where you’re thinking about it, the answer is probably “yes.”
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to recommend getting tested if you have symptoms of COVID-19. According to a December 2023 report from Zoe, a health company that tracks how symptoms of COVID-19 change, the The top five symptoms are reported From COVID-19 around that time last winter they had sore throat, runny nose, stuffy nose, sneezing and coughing.
but you are A test should also be done If you’ve been exposed to COVID-19, about five days after exposure if you don’t have symptoms, according to the CDC (testing too early can give you a false negative). And perhaps just as important, you should consider getting tested if you plan to spend time with someone who is at risk of death or serious illness from COVID-19, including older adults. (And, of course, avoid close contact with people at higher risk if you’re feeling sick, even if your test turns out to be negative.)
Well, you are looking for a test. Which one should you choose? The best answer might be the one you have at home, or the one you can get for free, as long as you Your test has not expired. As a general rule, Laboratory or molecular tests, which include PCR tests, are more accurate of rapid antigen tests (most of the home tests we have become familiar with), which means that you are more likely to get a false negative result with an antigen test than with a PCR test.
But while there are some at-home lab-level tests, they are more expensive than rapid antigen tests and require you to charge a sample. So, what you have available – and what you can afford – may be your best option.
Fortunately, although the virus that causes COVID-19 has mutated several times since the beginning of the pandemic, recent changes to the virus It doesn’t seem to have caused Significant differences in the effectiveness of the home test, at least when changing from omicron subvariant to omicron subvariant.
Here’s a roundup of some of the best and most direct COVID-19 tests available right now to help you in your search.
Navica on the App Store Where to buy it: CVS, Walgreens, Amazon, and other pharmacies Collection method: Nasal swab Get results in: 15 minutes
Abbott’s BinaxNOW COVID-19 test is one of the most popular home tests, so you might recognize the purple and blue box. Like most other home tests that are on the cheaper side, it is a rapid antigen test that gives you results within 15 minutes at home. The kit comes with two tests.
Jessica used this test when she had COVID-19 in September 2022. She tested positive the day after she started feeling ill, and again days later, although the positive result was much weaker.
However, if you take this test while feeling ill and you test negative, it does not necessarily mean that you have the COVID-19 virus. BinaxNOW is an antigen test, which is a type of test that is less accurate than molecular or lab-based tests. This is why the Food and Drug Administration It recommends at least two antigen tests Over a few days if you have symptoms of COVID-19. However, some people have reported never having tested positive despite having some symptoms of COVID-19.
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FlowFlex Where to buy it: CVS, Target, other pharmacies Collection method: Nasal swab Get results in: 15 minutes
While the Flowflex antigen test is a one test package per box, it retails for $10 less. Like many home tests, results come within minutes after all instructions are followed correctly. (Make sure your FlowFlex test is FDA-approved, f Not a fake test.) that it Smear, swirl and drop road.
Jessica also used this test, and got a positive result, after being confirmed to have COVID-19 in another home test in September 2022.
Amanda Capritto/CNET Where to buy it: LetsGetChecked.com Check for symptoms: Yes Collection method: Nasal swab Get results: Three days after the lab receives your sample
If you want lab-level accuracy without a doctor’s visit, this may be the test for you. The swab sample is sent to a laboratory and analysis will include either PCR testing or transcription-mediated amplification. While lab tests like this one from LetsGetChecked are more expensive than your standard rapid antigen test, you can feel more secure in its accuracy.
Sarah Tew/CNET Where to buy it: Walmart, Amazon, CVS, and more How to collect: Nasal swab Get results in: 15 minutes
You can’t go wrong with your standard set of two rapid antigen test kits (which you may have received for free in the mail from the government). If you want to prove a negative COVID-19 test result before an internal meeting, for example, the iHealth test is one home test that has an app that you can pair your results with.
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On/Go Where to buy it: On/Go, Best Buy, WalmartCollection method: Nasal swab Get results in: 15 minutes
On/Go tests have the classic swab collection, swirl, and repeat method of rapid antigen tests, but you can purchase these tests on the On/Go website in bulk. You can purchase a standard set of two tests for $20, or 100 tests (50 boxes) For $840 – or even more wholesale request. like Healthline reports, This may be ideal for people who have to frequently test work. Or, if you’re planning a wedding and want to pre-test everyone, for example.
OraSure Technologies, as found on the Walmart website Where to buy it: Walmart kit Method: Nasal swab Get results in: 10 minutes
All rapid home tests should be relatively easy to use – that’s the point of them, for quick results. But InteliSwab, like Verywell Health Reports, easier. To use it, wipe both nostrils and swirl the wand into the tube, then Just wait for your results.
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The information in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have about a medical condition or health goals.
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