At home cpvid test4/19/2023 How to Administer a Home COVID TestĪdministering a home COVID test takes just a few minutes, and everything you need is in the box (except for a device to connect to the telehealth service, if applicable). “If the viral load is low, PCR testing is far more accurate, as it can detect low levels of material,” she says. They detect COVID-19 best when you have a high viral load, explains Hokeness, which typically occurs when you’re symptomatic or you’ve been recently exposed and your infection has just begun. How Accurate Are Home COVID Tests?Īntigen at-home COVID tests are often accurate but typically less sensitive than molecular tests. These tests can be slightly less sensitive than nasal tests that use a long swab to gather a mucous sample, but both are considered viable at-home testing options. While most home COVID test kits you’ll find contain nasal swabs, you might encounter some that test a saliva sample instead. (The manufacturer of the test provides this service.) by air, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requires your home antigen test include supervision by a medical professional via video. “These tests are not recorded, so some situations may require PCR testing-for example, returning to work or school or travel,” says Hokeness. The majority of over-the-counter COVID tests that provide rapid results are antigen tests, which may be sufficient before attending an indoor event, but it may not be enough if you’re traveling. The type of COVID test you choose may depend on its purpose. If they are not present, you will not get binding and the results will be negative,” says Hokeness. “If the COVID-19 antigens are present in the sample, they will bind to the antibodies, and you will get a positive result. When you swab your nostril with the supplied swab and apply the sample to the test strip, lateral flow technology (similar to what’s used in a pregnancy test, says Hokeness) moves the sample fluid over the antibodies on the test strip-“like a paper towel soaking up water.” Home COVID tests use strips that contain antibodies to a critical protein present in COVID-19, explains Hokeness. You must take the test within one calendar day of arrival, so an antigen test may be your best option for getting results on time before you fly. “Antigen tests are also helpful for screening before large gatherings or travel to provide some assurance of safe gathering,” says Hokeness.įor example, if you travel internationally, a negative COVID–19 test result is required to enter the U.S., regardless of vaccination status. She says rapid antigen tests can help limit the spread of the virus while you wait for PCR results, which can take days to be processed. “Or if you have a known exposure to a COVID-positive individual, it is also a quick way to screen.” “If you are symptomatic, it will be a quick way to determine a positive result,” says Kirsten Hokeness, Ph.D, professor and chair of science and technology at Bryant University in Rhode Island. Once you complete the test instructions, you can find out your status within 15 to 30 minutes. Many rapid test kits contain antigen tests for the coronavirus. All You Need To Know About Home COVID Tests-And How To Get Them For FreeĪ home COVID test is best for people who want near-immediate results for their COVID infection status. While we work hard to provide accurate and up-to-date information that we think you will find relevant, Forbes Health does not and cannot guarantee that any information provided is complete and makes no representations or warranties in connection thereto, nor to the accuracy or applicability thereof. The compensation we receive from advertisers does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides in our articles or otherwise impact any of the editorial content on Forbes Health. Second, we also include links to advertisers’ offers in some of our articles these “affiliate links” may generate income for our site when you click on them. This site does not include all companies or products available within the market. The compensation we receive for those placements affects how and where advertisers’ offers appear on the site. First, we provide paid placements to advertisers to present their offers. This compensation comes from two main sources. To help support our reporting work, and to continue our ability to provide this content for free to our readers, we receive compensation from the companies that advertise on the Forbes Health site. The Forbes Health editorial team is independent and objective.
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