While you can buy at-home COVID tests at a pharmacy or grocery store, many retailers restrict the number of tests you can buy at one time, and there’s no guarantee of availability. CVS, Walgreens and Walmart all list at-home tests as out of stock online but potentially available in stores.
Full Answer
How do I find out what products are in stock at Target?
Simply find the product you want, and hit “check stores.” You’ll see the stock status at all stores near you. Or, use the filters on the left to browse items available at your selected store: If you’re logged in to your Target account, hit the heart next to a test to “favorite” it.
How do I know if a test is available in-store?
In-store stock: There’s no perfect way to check if a test is available in stores. Even after you select your nearest store and filter results, most tests are labeled with “in-store stock varies” and instructions to visit your store to see if the test is in stock.
How can you track the availability of hard-to-find goods?
Apps that track the availability of hard-to-find goods can help do the legwork for you. Websites and apps including HotStock, NowInStock.net, ZooLert and Brickseek have added COVID-19 home tests to their roster of in-demand items and are regularly updated to reflect availability.
How much does an at-home antigen test cost?
Another site, findacovidtest.org, directs visitors to iHealth Labs' website, which has its own brand of at-home antigen test in stock now, at $19.80 per two tests. Apps that track the availability of hard-to-find goods can help do the legwork for you.
Where can I find a location that has at-home over-the-counter COVID-19 tests?
Consumers can visit stores online or in-person. The Biden-Harris Administration is also strongly incentivizing health plans and insurers to set up a network of convenient options across the country like pharmacies or retailers, including online retailers, where people can get COVID-19 tests for free at the point of sale, rather than having to submit claims for reimbursement. Consumers can find out from their plan or insurer if it is providing direct coverage of over-the-counter COVID-19 tests through such a network of preferred pharmacies or retailers.
Does CVS offer COVID-19 testing?
CVS provides laboratory-based nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) and rapid point-of-care (POC) testing at no cost to consumers at over 700 locations in 44 states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. Locations include community testing sites and some CVS pharmacies.
What does it mean if I test negative for COVID-19?
See full answerA negative test result means that the virus that causes COVID-19 was not found in your sample. However, it is possible for this test to give a negative result that is incorrect (false negative) in some people with COVID- 19. You might test negative if the sample was collected early during your infection.You could also be exposed to COVID-19 after your sample was collected and then have become infected. In particular, people infected with COVID-19 but who have no symptoms may not shed enough virus to trigger a positive test. This means that you could possibly still have COVID-19 even though the test result is negative.
When should you take a COVID-19 test after exposure?
YES: Get tested at least 5 days after exposure. Follow quarantine guidance while waiting to test.
How much does a COVID-19 test cost?
The cost for testing should be covered by most insurance plans or through government-sponsored programs.For private pay patients, please contact your health care provider for cost to administer a COVID-19 test.
How long can I test positive for COVID-19?
If you test positive for COVID, how long could that last? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some people who contract COVID-19 can have detectable virus for up to three months, but that doesn't mean they are contagious.
Can you test negative for COVID-19 and still have it?
Simply put: Depending on when you take a test, if you have COVID symptoms and receive negative results from an at-home, rapid test, the level of virus in your body could be too low to be detected by the test, at least at first.
Can a person test negative and later test positive for COVID-19?
It is possible for this test to give a negative result that is incorrect (false negative) in some people with COVID- 19. This means that you could possibly still have COVID- 19 even though the test is negative. The amount of antigen in a sample may decrease the longer you have symptoms of infection.
Should I repeat the at-home COVID-19 test if it is negative?
Some self-tests are designed to be used in a series (also known as serial testing). Consider repeating the test 24 to 48 hours later. Multiple negative tests increases the confidence that you are not infected with the virus that causes COVID-19.
What should I do when I tested positive for COVID-19 and want to express breast milk?
See full answerWear a mask as you express breast milk. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before touching any pump or bottle parts, and before expressing breast milk. Follow recommendations for proper pump cleaning after each use. Clean all parts of the pump that come into contact with breast milk. Consider having a healthy caregiver feed the expressed breast milk to the baby. The caregiver should be up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines and not be at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19. If the caregiver is living in the same home or has been in close contact with you, they might have been exposed. People who have come into close contact with someone with COVID-19 should be tested to check for infection: If you develop symptoms, get tested immediately and isolate until you receive your test results. If you test positive, follow isolation recommendations. If you do not develop symptoms, get tested at least 5 days
What should I do if I have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19?
If you have come into close contact with someone with COVID-19 follow recommendations to quarantine and wear a well-fitting mask. Quarantine recommendations vary based on up-to-date vaccination status or history of prior COVID-19 infection in the past 90 days.
How long is the incubation period for COVID-19?
- The incubation period for COVID-19. Given that the incubation period can be up to 14 days, CDC recommends conducting screening testing at least weekly.
CVS Pharmacy
CVS Pharmacy has the FlowFlex COVID-19 antigen home test in stock today, according to the drugstore chain's website. At $9.99 per test, consumers are limited to six tests per order. The test is authorized for emergency use by the FDA, and was also deemed a top-tier kit from a usability perspective by ECRI, the patient safety organization.
Deme Tech
Medical equipment supplier Deme Tech also has over-the-counter rapid antigen tests in stock. The company sells Intrivo's On/Go tests for $24.99 per box of two, and for now there is no limit on how many boxes customers can purchase.
iHealth Labs
Another site, findacovidtest.org, directs visitors to iHealth Labs' website, which has its own brand of at-home antigen test in stock now, at $19.80 per two tests.
Walgreens
As of Thursday morning, Walgreens has Abbott's BinaxNow rapid COVID-19 self-test kit in stock online for $23.99. Delivery time for the product is three to five days, so it's wise to check if the test kits are available at a nearby store if you need one sooner.
Where can I get an at-home rapid COVID test?
We’ve rounded up top retailers that advertise at-home rapid COVID tests in stock for immediate purchase. Note that stock fluctuates frequently.
How do rapid COVID tests work?
At-home rapid COVID tests detect the virus by looking for its associated proteins. These tests detects nucleocapsid protein from SARS-CoV-2 in under 15 minutes, according to the CDC.
How accurate are at-home rapid COVID tests?
Preliminary studies show antigen tests accurately pinpoint COVID infections in 72% of people with symptoms on average, compared to 58% of infected people who are asymptomatic.
Are at-home rapid COVID tests approved by the FDA?
The FDA has approved more than 400 at-home rapid antigen tests designed for COVID screening — including BinaxNow and QuickVue — for what’s called emergency use authorization since March 2020.
How do I get a free rapid COVID test?
The White House announced in December 2021 that starting in January 2022, the public can receive at-home COVID tests through an official website that’s yet to launch. Half a billion at-home COVID tests are slated to be available for delivery.
When a rapid COVID test is appropriate
Experts suggest the best time for screening yourself with a rapid COVID test is when you:
How much do rapid COVID tests cost?
Over-the-counter rapid COVID tests can cost anywhere from $10 to $30 each. The Biden administration has pledged to release details by January 15th that specify how you can get reimbursement for at-home tests through your insurance company.
Where can I buy at-home COVID-19 test kits?
Rapid antigen tests are available at pharmacies like Walgreens, Walmart, Rite-Aid and CVS, and via online retailers like Amazon.
Retailers with available COVID-19 home test kits
If you feel like you're experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and want to order online to avoid being in a store, there are a handful of retailers with reliable online stock and quick delivery options. The three most frequently available based on our tracking are Walmart, Walgreens and Target .
Check local pharmacies online for their current stock of test kits
If you can't get tests delivered to your home in a timely manner and you can't find a free municipal restock, some pharmacies, like Walgreens, will tell you online if there are locations with stock available right now in your area. If there's no in-store stock listing for your local pharmacy online, you may need to call, but remember to be patient.
Ask your local health department
Many cities and states also currently offer free COVID test kits for pickup: To see if your area is one of them, visit your area health department website or check its social media platforms.
How to order free tests and get reimbursed for tests you've bought
Every household in the US can order four free rapid COVID-19 tests shipped to their home via the website COVIDtests.gov.
Do Medicaid and Medicare cover the cost of at-home test kits?
Initially, Medicare was not included in the White House's insurance mandate for COVID-19 tests.
How to use at-home COVID-19 tests
Of course, read the complete manufacturer’s instructions for use before starting the test and make sure you talk to a healthcare provider if you have questions about the test or your results. Here are general steps to take a self-test, according to the CDC.
Accuracy of at-home COVID tests
Invalid test results are rare but can occur. Chief Infection Control Officer Roy Chemaly, M.D. at the University of Texas MD Cancer Center said that “the tests are only accurate 80% of the time, and sometimes less.”
Where to buy at-home COVID tests
Thanks to at-home COVID tests, many people now have the option to test themselves instead of waiting in hour-long lines at their local urgent care office. The tricky part is now getting your hands on one. In an effort to help you obtain a self-test we rounded up a handful of retailers that still have self-tests in stock.
A few things to note
The government is currently offering four free at-home tests to households and according to the White House website, they will ship anytime between 7 to 14 days.
Where to get rapid Covid tests
BinaxNow: for $19 @ Walmart Select Walmart locations have stock of the FDA-authorized Abbott BinaxNow rapid self-test. The test offers results within 15 minutes of swabbing your nose and inserting the sample into the test card. It can detect multiple strains, including the Delta variant. Amazon also offers it for $20.
How much do at-home Covid-19 tests cost?
Americans with private insurance can now ask their insurance provider for reimbursement for any rapid at-home Covid-19 tests purchased on or after January 15, 2022. Individuals will likely have to log onto their insurance provider's website to file a claim. (The process may be different based on your insurance).
How much do Covid-19 tests cost without insurance?
If you're not insured — or if you're covered by Medicare — the Biden administration has launched a website ( https://www.covidtests.gov) where you can now request free at-home Covid-19 tests delivered to your home. (Find out how to get a free at-home Covid-19 test kit).
How accurate are rapid Covid tests?
Some rapid Covid tests claim to be around 85% accurate at detecting traces of the virus. However, real-word studies posted by the CDC have shown their accuracy to be even lower. Meanwhile, other studies have shown that results could be more accurate for symptomatic individuals versus those who are asymptomatic.
How long does it take to get Covid test results?
Most at-home Covid-19 tests require the collection of a nasal specimen or saliva specimen. While many tests can offer results in minutes, others may require that you mail back your specimen to a laboratory. (The FDA has a list of at-home tests it authorized for emergency use).
Where can I get at-home COVID tests in bulk?
You can purchase tests in retail stores or online, but COVID kits are often out of stock or unavailable. Here are a few online stores offering COVID test kits in bulk.
Bulk tests are available for small businesses
Small business owners have a couple of options to make sure their staff has access to regular testing.
Which test should I get?
The FDA has authorized over 400 COVID test collection kits, but only a fraction of those are at-home kits. You can find the list of FDA-approved antigen and PCR tests on its website. These two main styles of tests aren’t interchangeable, and each should be used for a specific purpose:
Heather Petty
Heather Petty is a personal finance writer at Finder specializing in home loans, banking and insurance. After falling victim to a disreputable mortgage broker when buying her first home, she’s on a mission to help readers avoid similar experiences when managing their own finances.
