There is a chance that your test results may show up as invalid. This means the test doesn’t work. If this happens with your first test, you can try again with the second one in the box (although you’ll need to purchase another pack to test again).
Stock volatility and coverage
These days, a quick Covid home check isn’t as simple as walking into the pharmacy or clicking Add to Cart. Stocks are always changing, so you’ll need to regularly check online or at physical retailers. We recommend calling your local pharmacies and drugstores to check availability.
To keep up with increased demand, retailers are limited number of tests each customer. In Walgreens, you will be limited to four checks per purchase both in-store and online; Walmart is limiting its customers to eight checks when you shop online (no in-store limits). At CVS, you will only be able to purchase six tests at a time.
Home kits can add up quickly. The The Biden administration recently announced There are plans to distribute 500 million free rapid Covid home test kits across the US, but this won’t start until January. Your only option is to pay out-of-pocket for over-the-counter rapid kits. Currently, the kit is covered only if they are prescribed through your healthcare provider, based on your symptoms. But we recommend saving on receipts, as your private health insurance company may be able to refund you. Have a flexible spending account (FSA) or a health savings account (HSA)? You can choose to use it to purchase a quick covid test kit at home.
Check Covid-19 at home quickly
Walgreens, Walmart ($14), CVS, Sam’s Club ($14), aid
Abbot’s BinaxNow Kit provides results within 15 minutes of nose picking and sample insertion on the included test slip. You can then use Navica, the companion app, to self-report your results. Those who test negative will receive a temporary encrypted digital card that they can use as official proof of their test results. With two tests in each box, the company recommends taking another within three days — no earlier than 24 hours but no later than 48 hours. Several members of the Gear team used this test. We can’t verify its accuracy, but we can say it’s relatively easy to use.
Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, Simply medical, Everlywell ($25), Carewell ($26)
With the QuickVue at-home test, all you need to do is pick both nostrils, swirl it into a prefilled tube, and dip the test strip for 10 minutes. If the result is positive, you will see both blue and pink lines appear on the strip. If it’s negative, you’ll just see a blue line. The kit also comes with two separate tests, so you can take another test within three days. I used this test, and I found it easy to manage and understand.
