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Best at-home COVID test kit
Use an at-home COVID test to quickly see if you’re safe to attend events or go to work, or if you need to quarantine and seek early antiviral treatment.
At-home COVID test kits come with everything you need and are a hassle-free way to get results fast. While most of the test results are not officially certified, they are still accepted at event venues and by employers who require weekly testing of their workers. These self-tests can also be the first step in getting an official test at a clinic so antiviral treatment can begin, or you can quarantine to reduce spreading the illness to others. All the self-tests we evaluated are FDA authorized, which means they have been approved for emergency use even though they have not been individually been tested or certified by the agency. So, we took a good look at feedback from users and medical professionals to learn which ones are the most accurate. Here are the COVID-19 self-testing kits we feel are the best.
iHealth is one of the most popular at-home COVID test kits with several schools, companies, and other organizations around the United States using them. This kit includes testing tubes and strips that display clear negative or positive results within 15 minutes. You can get digital results through the iHealth app, which also includes help with testing groups and keeping results in order for easy tracking.
Pros:
FDA authorized
Results in 15 mins
Comes with two tests
Cons:
Uncomfortable for some to use
Hard to test yourself
Self-testing is not for children
While it uses a nasal swab to collect a test sample, iHealth doesn’t require you to place it high inside the nasal cavity. Instead, you place it just inside your nose where it isn’t too intrusive or uncomfortable. It can be a little tricky to perform this on yourself, and kids younger than 15 years old shouldn’t use this test without help from an adult.
The Lucira Check It COVID-19 test is one of the most accurate tests because it tests PCR rather than antigen levels. Because it is a PCR test, it detects COVID in asymptomatic patients and in those who are just starting to feel sick.
Pros:
FDA authorized
Digital results
Good for early detection
Cons:
Results take longer than antigen tests
Nasal swab may be uncomfortable
This COVID-19 self-test uses a nasal swab to collect test samples. It is okay to use on children as young as 2 years old with the help of an adult. Even though the sample is collected in a shallow area of the nasal cavity, it still may be uncomfortable for some people, especially children. It also takes Check It longer to produce test results compared to antigen tests. Where antigen tests take about 10 to 15 minutes, Lucira takes 30.
The DxTerity at-home COVID test kit is one of the best tests for detecting illness in asymptomatic patients because it is a PCR rather than an antigen test. It is different from other self-tests we reviewed because it uses a saliva sample instead of a nasal swab, and it requires the sample to be sent to a lab rather than producing a rapid result at home. Since it is tested in a certified lab, the verified results can be used in ways other at-home testing kids can’t, including for travel.
Pros:
PCR test
FDA authorized
Lab-tested results
Prepaid express shipping
Cons:
Results take time to get
As part of this kit, you received a prepaid express packaging that is collected at FedEx pick-up locations in your area. The results are sent to you in digital format so you can save them without having to carry around a lot of physical paperwork, and the results can be shared with local health departments, medical professions, and other reporting agencies for official reports and case counts. It does take longer to get these results, though if mailed on the same day as you take the test - excluding weekends and holidays - results are typically received the next day.
The On/Go at-home COVID-19 test looks for viral antigens to determine a positive result. It comes with two tests that can be used at different times for the same individual, or for more than one person in the home to determine who may be sick. You get digital results fast within 10 minutes through the On/Go app. These results are stored so it’s easier to share at venues or with employers and to track illness histories.
Pros:
FDA Authorized
Results in 10 mins
Track and share results
Cons:
False negative results are common
This at-home COVID-19 test kit is FDA authorized for use on children as young as 2 years old. The nasal swab collects samples in the shallow areas of your nose rather than deeper inside where it is more uncomfortable, though it still may not be comfortable for some people to collect this sample and maybe scary for young children. Consumers who have used the On-Go self-test have mixed results with some of the most recent users reporting inaccuracies typically showing false negatives. This may be due to user error and not a flaw in the test itself.
Here's what we recommend
We overwhelmingly recommend the iHealth COVID-19 antigen rapid test. We have used it and have worked with organizations and community groups that distribute and use them, too, including several health care companies. It provides quick results within 15 minutes that are very accurate. This antigen test uses a small nasal swab to collect samples right inside your nose where it is more comfortable to swab, and it is safe enough to use on young children. However, these results can’t be used for travel, though they are fine for reporting negative findings to employers, schools, and event venues.
For test results for travel purposes, look into the DxTerity self-test kit. This saliva test looks for PCR material rather than antigens, so it is more accurate at detecting early infections and COVID in asymptomatic patients. However, the test samples need to be sent to a certified lab that will send you digitalized results that are recognized and accepted by many travel agencies. Prepaid postage and package come with the DxTerity at-home COVID-19 test kit.
Why trust us?
At Live Science, we recommend the best products to enhance your life. As expert curators, we handpick products based on quality and usefulness to positively impact your life. We take our responsibility seriously — testing products, reading reviews, and sourcing knowledgeable outlets to ensure our selections are worthy of your time and money. We deliver detailed product overviews, balancing objective information with subjective opinions, so making the best choice for your home and lifestyle is as easy as possible.
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Nikki writes for multiple Future Publishing brands covering topics from antivirus to kitchen appliances to SAS. She has over 15 years of research and writing experience, including eight years of testing and reviewing consumer products. Nikki earned bachelor’s degrees in both English and Political Science with a focus on empirical research. In her spare time, Nikki serves as a member of several school councils and volunteers for a local arts board.
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