Testing for COVID-19 at Home?

For many people, the ability to test for COVID-19 at home has become the norm. With the variety of rapid antigen COVID-19 testing kits available on the market, you can test for COVID-19 in the comfort of your home and get results in as little as 15 minutes. And – good news – each household will be able to order another round of four free at-home test kits, which will start shipping Sept. 30, 2024.

Order four free tests at COVIDtests.gov

“Traditional PCR tests are the most reliable,” says internal medicine provider Jodi Lenko, MD, with LVPG Family and Internal Medicine–Alliance Drive, and Vice Chair, Department of Medicine, Lehigh Valley Hospital–Hazleton. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for COVID-19, done in a lab, is a molecular test that analyzes your upper respiratory specimen, looking for genetic material (ribonucleic acid or RNA) of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. “However, not everyone needs a PCR test. At-home tests, or antigen tests, are very useful in certain situations,” Dr. Lenko says.

It’s a good idea to keep a small supply of rapid antigen COVID-19 tests in your home, so you have one readily available if someone in your family needs to be tested. There are a variety of COVID-19 testing kits, so choosing one can be daunting. Studies have shown that kits with nasal swabs are more effective than those that use saliva samples.

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Before choosing your at-home testing kit, make sure it’s the best testing option for your situation. In some cases, a PCR test may be required.

Home COVID-19 tests usually come in a pack of two so if you suspect you have been exposed, you can take a second test a few days after the first. Make sure to store your at-home testing kits in a dry, room temperature setting. Do not open kits prior to use.

Each type of home COVID-19 test is slightly different. Be sure to read the directions carefully before you start. The directions will provide details on how to use the swab correctly and how long you should wait for results. Record your results in 15 to 30 minutes and dispose of your test. Don’t look at the test after 30 minutes as the results are no longer accurate.

Home tests look for the presence of specific proteins associated with the virus. If they are detected, a positive result appears on a test strip in a matter of minutes, similar to a home pregnancy test.

If your COVID-19 test is positive, Dr. Lenko says trust the results. “If you have cold or flu-like symptoms, and you test at home and it is positive, you have COVID-19. Stay home, isolate and stay away from other people,” she says.

If your result is negative, stay home if you have symptoms and test again in a couple of days. “Home tests can return a false negative early in an infection, so you should test again in 36 to 48 hours,” Dr. Lenko says. “If the results are negative again, use one of LVHN’s virtual care options to get guidance on what to do next.”

Although home testing is important when it comes to detecting and stopping the spread of COVID-19, Dr. Lenko says it is not a substitute for other preventive measures. “Home testing is certainly advantageous when it comes to keeping people safe, especially those who are high risk,” she says, “but it’s not a substitute for vaccines or masks while the virus is circulating.”