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With a new Covid variant going around (again), and cold weather coming in (again), Covid-19 cases are looking like they’re set to spike as everyone’s social gatherings move inside. While we’re all pretty used to this by now, this time around, we have a new weapon in our arsenal: at-home tests.
Related: These Rapid Covid Tests Are Selling Out as People Gather (Cautiously) Again
It may not be a treatment or cure, but the best home Covid tests give you the benefit of knowing if you’ve contracted the virus, which could help stop the spread and prevent friends, relatives, and others from catching the virus too.
Of course, there are variables for each test, and since this isn’t really like any other over-the-counter packs we frequently buy, it’s best to know a few points before ordering a home Covid test online.
What to Know Before Buying a Home Covid Test Online
While Covid tests used to be reserved for hospitals and clinics, you can now buy home Covid tests online, with sites like Amazon offering a number of doctor-approved testing kits. But you’ll want to make sure to check the type of test and the accuracy of the process in order to find the best Covid tests on Amazon for you.
Accuracy: Just like a pregnancy test, or any test really, there’s a margin of error for home Covid tests. Thankfully, it’s pretty low, with some tests stretching past 97% accuracy. Since this virus tends to mutate fast, check to see if your test covers the newest one (I.e. Omicron). It may not be a perfect, airtight method, but it’s generally pretty reliable.
Results: How much time do you have until your social gathering? Some of the more accurate tests require either mailing in to a lab and/or waiting a few days to a week to hear back. The benefit is a more detailed analysis, but if your party is tomorrow, that’s not going to cut it. Instead, you’ll need a test that gives you results right at home. A rapid antigen test can be quick, often in 15 minutes.
Testing Process: It’s most likely not going to be comfortable, but the good news is that the home testing process for Covid is way better than the original PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) testing when this all first started. Those ones needed to go far, far up into your nasal cavity. For these new home Covid tests, only about 3/4-inch up your nose is needed: Move the swab around, combine it with a solution, and drop it onto the test strip, or properly package it to send back to the lab. Throat swabs are offered in other home Covid tests, and those swabs will need to reach to your tonsils, without touching your tongue, teeth or gums.
Some tests require an oral sample and a sample from both nostrils, all using the same swab. For instant result tests, you’ll notice a spot for both “C” and “T” – a sample that tests positive for Covid will display a line on both, while a negative result will only show a line on C, or for an invalid test, a singular line on T. All tests are a bit different though, so be sure to read the directions carefully.
Price: Pricing for tests is all over the place and constantly changing, based on supply and demand, availability, and what country you’re in. These are all relatively new, but they’re getting better with time.
While we can’t guarantee, predict, or offer any medical advice, these tests can be an excellent step in gaining control over containing Covid. Here’s what to look for when shopping for home Covid tests online.
Related: The Best Face Masks for the Omicron Variant
