Individuals can now declare one other set of free COVID-19 exams.
The federal authorities has introduced that beginning this week, every U.S. family can order 4 extra free at-home exams. They’ll begin delivery out the week of Sept. 30.
You’ll be able to order extra exams through the web site of the U.S. Postal Service, which is able to ship them to you free of charge.
They are going to be antigen exams, also referred to as fast exams. They work by detecting proteins from the virus that causes COVID-19, whereas molecular exams like polymerase chain response (PCR) exams work by detecting genetic materials from the virus.
Antigen exams are much less more likely to detect the COVID-19 virus than molecular exams — particularly in somebody whose an infection has simply began or who isn’t symptomatic but. So repeat testing is vital when utilizing antigen exams.
The U.S. Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) explains:
“Presently, all at-home COVID-19 antigen exams which are FDA-authorized are licensed for repeat testing, additionally referred to as serial testing. This implies individuals who obtain a destructive check outcome ought to use a number of exams over a sure interval, testing no less than twice over three days if they’ve signs and no less than 3 times over 5 days if they don’t have signs.”
If you happen to nonetheless have exams available at house, the federal government urges you to examine their expiration dates earlier than throwing them out. The expiration dates of some exams have been prolonged.
You’ll be able to study extra about COVID-19 check expiration dates — and discover expiration dates for particular exams — on the FDA web site.
If you’re in pressing want of testing for COVID-19, your choices embody:
- Shopping for an at-home check at a retailer, corresponding to a pharmacy.
- Checking free of charge testing websites in your space. Go to the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention’s free COVID-19 testing web site to seek for one close to you.
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