How to shop for at-home Covid tests, according to medical experts
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Gone are the days of visiting a doctor’s office to determine whether you have Covid. Instead, you can buy over-the-counter test kits, which diagnose infection from the comfort of your home, making them convenient. However, at-home Covid tests are generally less sensitive than tests performed by medical professionals, says Omai Garner, PhD, chief of clinical microbiology for the UCLA Health System. That said, it’s important to understand their benefits and limitations.
I spoke to experts about how to shop for at-home Covid tests, including how they work, who should use them and how accurate they are. I 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 | Why trust NBC Select?
What to know about at-home Covid tests before shopping
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.
It’s important to note that most rapid tests are antigen tests, and while a few molecular rapid tests are available, they are not PCR tests — they perform a different type of molecular test that’s less sensitive, which means they require a higher amount of the virus in a sample to detect it, says Garner. Be aware that many rapid test kits say they are able to deliver PCR-quality results, but a PCR-quality test is not equivalent to a PCR test, says Garner.
How we picked the best at-home Covid tests
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.
Result delivery: With home collection tests, you’ll have to send a sample to a lab, which delivers your results via email and/or through an online portal or app. You can interpret the results of most rapid tests on the included test card, but some require a companion app, and others require an electronic reader or analyzer, which tend to be pricier. Be sure to read about how you’ll get the results before stocking up on Covid tests.
The best FDA-authorized Covid rapid tests
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.
iHealth COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test
iHealth COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test
iHealth COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test $17.98 at iHealth Labs
iHealth’s kit includes two tests — it’s best to test twice over three days with 24 to 48 hours between them, according to the brand. You perform the test using a nasal swab you collect, a test card and processing fluid. iHealth also offers an app you can download to log your results.
Result time: 15 minutes | Age range: 2 years old and above | Sample type: Nasal
BinaxNOW COVID-19 Antigen Self Test
BinaxNOW COVID-19 Antigen Self Test
BinaxNOW COVID-19 Antigen Self Test $15.88 at Amazon
BinaxNOW COVID-19 Antigen Self Test $15.88 at Walmart
BinaxNOW COVID-19 Antigen Self Test $23.99 at Walgreens
This kit comes with two tests — you should test yourself twice within three days, making sure tests are done at least 36 hours apart, according to the brand. It provides the materials needed to perform nasal swabs as well as the actual test, which is done using test cards and processing fluid.
Result time: 15 minutes | Age range: 2 years old and above | Sample type: Nasal
FlowFlex COVID-19 Antigen Home Test
FlowFlex COVID-19 Antigen Home Test
FlowFlex COVID-19 Antigen Home Test $31.99 at Amazon
FlowFlex COVID-19 Antigen Home Test $42.99 at Target
FlowFlex’s home testing kit comes with five tests. After the first test, the brand recommends testing two more times at least 48 hours apart. The kit comes with materials needed to perform a nasal swab and the actual test, which is done using a test card and processing fluid.
Result time: 15 minutes | Age range: 2 years old and above | Sample type: Nasal
Quidel QuickVue At-Home COVID-19 Antigen Test Kit
Quidel QuickVue At-Home COVID-19 Antigen Test Kit
Quidel QuickVue At-Home COVID-19 Antigen Test Kit $16.99 at Amazon
Quidel QuickVue At-Home COVID-19 Antigen Test Kit $16.99 at Walmart
Quidel QuickVue At-Home COVID-19 Antigen Test Kit $18.99 at CVS Pharmacy
This kit is intended for you to test twice over two to three days with 24 to 36 hours between each test. You collect a nasal swab sample and dip it into a solution tube with a test strip to perform the test.
Result time: 10 minutes | Age range: 2 years old and above | Sample type: Nasal
On/Go COVID-19 Antigen Self-Test
On/Go COVID-19 Antigen Self-Test
On/Go’s kit comes with one test, so you'll have to buy multiple to perform serial testing. You should test twice over two or three days with 24 to 48 hours between them, according to the brand. There is a QR code on the box you can scan to download a companion app, which guides you through the testing process and allows you to log your test results. The test comes with materials needed to perform a nasal swab and the actual test, which is done using test cards and processing fluid.
Result time: 10 minutes | Age range: 2 years old and above | Sample type: Nasal
The best FDA-authorized Covid home collection tests
Below are some of the most widely available Covid home collection tests on the FDA-authorized list. They all come with prepaid return labels and professionals perform PCR tests on your samples when they arrive at the labs.
Pixel by Labcorp COVID-19 PCR Test Home Collection Kit
Pixel by Labcorp COVID-19 PCR Test Home Collection Kit
Pixel by Labcorp COVID-19 PCR Test Home Collection Kit $79.00 at Pixel by LabCorp
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
Picture by Fulgent Genetics COVID-19 Test $119.00 at Picture
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
Let’s Get Checked COVID-19 Test $109.00 at LetsGetChecked
Result time: Within 24 to 72 hours of the sample arriving to the lab | Age range: 2 years old and above | Sample type: Nasal
Home collection tests versus rapid tests: Pros and cons
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. I broke both testing methods down and highlighted pros and cons to be aware of.
Home collection tests
Pros: Home collection tests generally produce more accurate results than rapid tests. “The reason for that is because the gold standard PCR test is run on the sample, and the people running the test are professionals,” says Garner.
Cons: You need to account for human error. Because you are collecting the sample instead of a trained professional, there’s always the possibility of collecting a poor sample, which can impact your result, says Garner.
Rapid tests
Pros: Rapid tests deliver results in minutes, so if you are symptomatic, you can learn if what you’re experiencing is Covid or not very quickly.
Cons: Some rapid tests say they can screen asymptomatic individuals for Covid. However, Garner says he “fundamentally disagrees with [this]” because you cannot perform a PCR test — the most accurate Covid test — entirely at home. If you test too early with a rapid test, there may only be low levels of the virus present in the sample, which could lead to an inaccurate result. Thus, Garner does not think rapid tests are appropriate for asymptomatic testing, and all the experts we interviewed agreed. As for symptomatic testing, he says rapid tests perform relatively well — there is typically a higher amount of virus present in the body, reaching a threshold rapid tests can cover, he says.
Tips for using at-home Covid tests
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 Nachman. "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
- Are at-home Covid tests accurate?
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, experts told me.
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. 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.
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.
- Who can use at-home Covid tests?
Anyone can use at-home Covid tests, and many options are suitable for children as well as adults. However, it’s challenging for parents to test young children, says Nachman — if they’re moving around or you’re trying to collect a sample quickly so as to not upset them, you may not collect a good sample, which can skew results. If you’re concerned about collecting a good sample from kids by yourself or are having trouble doing so, experts say it’s best to get kids tested by medical professionals.
- Can Covid tests expire?
Yes, Covid tests expire, and you should not use expired Covid tests, according to the FDA. “The expiration date is a guaranteed date by which a test will still work,” says Garner. “This means you can only trust the result if the test is not expired.”
You can find a test’s expiration date listed on its box. Be sure to also check the expiration date column on the FDA’s List of Authorized At-Home OTC Covid Diagnostic Tests, which lists the most up-to-date expiration information. The expiration dates for Covid tests may be extended, which means “the manufacturer provided data showing that the shelf-life is longer than was known when the test was first authorized,” according to the FDA.
- Can you get free Covid tests?
Yes, you can get free Covid tests. Starting in late September, U.S. households can order up to four free rapid Covid tests through a federal program run by the U.S. Health and Human Services agency. The HHS has not announced exactly when orders will open, so keep an eye on its website, COVIDtests.gov, for updates. Orders will ship free.
- Does insurance cover Covid tests?
You can get free or low-cost Covid tests through insurance plans, which are now required to provide reimbursement for eight tests per month for each individual on a plan. Tests will either be free at the time of purchase or you’ll be reimbursed if you're charged (make sure to keep your receipt if you need to submit a claim to your insurance company for reimbursement). Some health plans have a network of preferred providers — including in-person and online pharmacies and retailers — you can get free tests from. If you purchase tests from retailers outside that network, insurance companies are still required to reimburse you up to $12 per individual test (or the cost of the test if it’s less than $12).
- Are Covid tests HSA/FSA eligible?
Yes, many at-home Covid test and collection kits are HSA/FSA eligible, so long as the full cost has not been covered by your insurance plan. At-home Covid tests are also eligible for reimbursement with a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA). They’re not eligible with a dependent care flexible spending account (DCFSA) or a limited-purpose flexible spending account (LPFSA).
Meet our experts
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 chief of clinical microbiology for the UCLA Health System and an associate clinical professor of pathology and laboratory 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.
Why trust NBC Select?
I'm an associate updates editor at NBC Select who has covered Covid since 2020. In addition to at-home Covid tests, I've reported about disposable masks, KN95 masks, N95 masks, KN95 masks for kids and vaccine card holders. For this article, I spoke to two experts about how to shop for and use at-home Covid tests.
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