How to Get Your 4 Free At-Home Covid-19 Tests (2022)
It took practically two years of dwelling by way of the Covid-19 pandemic to get our first spherical of free at-home speedy assessments. Now, we’re on our third. Every family within the United States—together with US territories and army addresses—can request 4 extra free assessments. Orders begin delivery this week. If you want a check proper now, we have now a information to discovering the perfect at-home assessments and have outlined the method of ordering and taking assessments beneath. Also, see our guides to the finest N95 masks and different reusable masks we like. You can observe our Covid-19 protection right here.
Updated December 2022: Another spherical of assessments is now out there, and we have added particulars.
Special supply for Gear readers: Get a 1-year subscription to WIRED for $5 ($25 off). This consists of limitless entry to WIRED.com and our print journal (if you would like). Subscriptions assist fund the work we do each day.
Table of Contents
Here’s How to Order Your Tests
Head straight to the US Postal Service’s Covid-19 web page. If you undergo (*4*)CovidTests.gov, on the entrance web page it is best to see “Order Free At-Home Tests” in a blue bubble. Clicking that redirects you to the proper USPS web page. There, you may fill out your title and tackle. Include your e mail tackle so you may get delivery notifications. Once you have stuffed in your tackle, click on the inexperienced Check Out Now button to the proper. It’s fully free, together with delivery. Only one particular person per family ought to place a request.
If you’d moderately place an order by telephone or you already know somebody who does not have entry to the web, you’ll be able to name a helpline at 1-800-232-0233, although you’ll doubtless be on maintain for some time. Don’t name USPS, as nobody you communicate to shall be in a position to place orders in your behalf.
The first spherical of assessments took a number of weeks to arrive, however the second spherical arrived inside a number of days. There’s no assure as to what model you may be getting, and you’ll’t select, however the website says these are Food and Drug Administration–approved at-home speedy antigen assessments. You’ll doubtless obtain the iHealth assessments we suggest.
You ought to take a check as quickly as you begin to discover signs or inside 5 days of publicity, in accordance to the Centers for Disease Control. If you are asymptomatic and your first check is detrimental, take one other check primarily based on the producer’s directions. This is often inside two to three days of the primary check—most assessments include two assessments per field for that reason. If your check is constructive, take one other check to confirm it and quarantine for 5 days.
Do You Need a Test Right Now?
If you want a check ASAP, please test our information on Rapid At-Home Covid-19 Tests and Where to Find Them. It additionally has extra details about accuracy. Rapid assessments often present ends in about quarter-hour, they usually’re about 85 p.c correct.
The Tests We Recommend (see our information for extra retailers). Preliminary outcomes present that the starred assessments can higher detect the Omicron variant:
