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As the coronavirus sweeps through the US, many private companies have been promoting kits that allow people to test themselves for the virus. But the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has only authorized a handful of at-home diagnostic testing kits for the coronavirus as of December 16, 2020. We’ll continue updating this page as new details emerge in the world’s response to COVID-19.
Your ability to buy these at-home tests comes down to your risk factors and the severity of your symptoms.
Yes, the FDA issued an emergency use authorization (EAU) to several at-home coronavirus testing kits as of December 16, 2020, including kits by LabCorp, Everlywell, Vault, Vitagene and Hims & Hers. Most of these tests are nasal swabs, though a few saliva tests have been authorized.
On December 9, 2020, the Pixel by LabCorp at-home coronavirus test kit became the first kit to be available over-the-counter without a prescription or referral. The company also launched one of the original at-home nasal swab tests earlier in the year.
At the moment, all at-home testing kits will set you back over $100 — though there are a range of inexpensive tests currently in development.
These are the cheapest tests on the market as of August 19, 2020.
Test | Type of test | Cost | Availability |
---|---|---|---|
Everlywell COVID-19 Test Home Collection Kit | Nasal swab | $109 | All states except NY, NJ, RI and MD |
Pixel by LabCorp COVID-19 Test | Nasal swab | $119 | Nationwide |
Vitagene COVID-19 Saliva Test Kit | Saliva test | $129 | Nationwide |
Phosphorus COVID-19 At-Home Test | Saliva test | $140 | Nationwide |
Hims & Hers COVID-19 Saliva Test | Saliva test | $150 | Nationwide |
A lot of news outlets have positioned the SalivaDirect test developed by researchers at the Yale School of Public Health as a low-cost COVID-19 saliva test option. While it was granted emergency use authorization by the FDA for its protocol, it’s not an at-home rapid test — it must be administered in a lab. This means the test isn’t available to the general public to purchase and use.
Aside from purchasing one of these at-home testing kits, you can also visit a doctor to get tested for the coronavirus. And even then, not everyone who’s exhibiting symptoms can get a test.
To determine whether you should take the diagnostic test, your doctor will assess your risk factors, such as your age, health, occupation and recent travel history. If you’re presenting with no symptoms or have minimal risk factors, you may not have access to a test.
Typically, people who fall into these categories can get a coronavirus test, according to Johns Hopkins:
You can get the coronavirus test at a medical clinic or hospital. There are drive-through testing locations around the country, too — but you may need to make an appointment, meet specific criteria and get a referral from a doctor.
Yes, Congress passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, a law that requires private health insurers to cover diagnostic testing for the coronavirus until the state of emergency is over. And the federal government will reimburse providers for the cost of testing for uninsured Americans.
All your coronavirus health insurance questions, answered
In short: Testing can’t keep up with demand. The test is time-consuming, and the results take several days. Some areas in the US don’t have enough tests, while others have imposed very narrow guidelines, according to Johns Hopkins.
For now, tests are being prioritized for those showing symptoms or at high risk if they contract it.
If you can’t get a test but suspect you have COVID-19, call your healthcare provider for tailored advice. Most people who contract the virus experience mild symptoms and can recover at home, according to the CDC.
To speed up your recovery, follow these steps as laid out by the CDC:
It’s similar to a flu test. The doctor puts on protective clothes and a mask, and inserts a swab into the patient’s nose to reach the nasopharynx — which is where your respiratory tract meets the back of your mouth.
The process can be uncomfortable, but only lasts a few seconds. The doctor then packages the samples and ships them to a laboratory to be tested for traces of the coronavirus that cause COVID-19.
If the test is positive, the doctor must report the results to both the patient and the public health authorities, according to Johns Hopkins.
Yes, the FDA has recently granted emergency use authorizations (EUAs) for a few saliva coronavirus testing kits, including ones by Vitagene, Hims & Hers, and Vault. For context, the standard approval process usually takes months or years. But the FDA can speed up the process by issuing these EUAs.
Antibody tests can determine whether a patient has previously been infected with the coronavirus.
Officially called “serological tests,” these tests scan the blood for antibodies — which are proteins produced by the immune system to fight off the virus.
However, these tests are still in development. Cellex is the only company with an FDA-approved serological test — but it’s not approved for at-home testing.
At-home coronavirus tests have become more readily available — with at least five companies offering these kits to the general public as of June 3, 2020.
However, do your research before purchasing any at-home COVID-19 testing kit to ensure it’s received authorization for use by the FDA. The agency bars the use of any unauthorized at-home test kits, warning that “fraudulent health claims, tests and products can pose serious health risks.”
Check that the company has an official emergency use authorization for its at-home coronavirus testing kit from the FDA — most have a link to the FDA authorization on their website. For the most up-to-date advice, check the FDA website.
A handful of at-home coronavirus testing kits have been cleared for use by the FDA. But if you’re hesitant to try out these at-home test, only medical clinics, hospitals and private laboratories can administer coronavirus and antibody tests.
If you’re experiencing severe symptoms, contact your healthcare provider. Otherwise, stay on top of changing news about the coronavirus.
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