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Banner: COVID-19 Testing

COVID-19 Testing

Order Your 4 Free At-⁠home COVID-⁠19 Tests

Every U.S. household is eligible to order 4 free at-home tests.


COVID-19 testing can help you know if you have COVID-19 so you can decide what to do next, like getting treatment to reduce your risk of severe illness and taking steps to lower your chances of spreading the virus to others.

Your order of COVID tests is completely free – you won’t even pay for shipping. Want to know when your tests are coming? Sign up to receive email alerts when you order!



Need help placing an order for your at-⁠home tests?
Call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489).

Tests with a Longer Shelf Life


Many COVID-19 tests have extended expiration dates, so you may be able to use your COVID-19 tests after the expiration date that is printed on the box. To find out if your test has an extended expiration date, check the FDA’s list of extended expiration dates.

About At-home COVID Tests


A man taking a COVID-19 test at home  

The tests available for order:

  • Are rapid antigen at-home tests, not PCR
  • Can be taken at home or other locations. Give results within 30 minutes (no lab drop-off required)
  • Can be used for testing even if you do not have COVID-19 symptoms
  • Can be used for testing whether you are up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines or not
  • Are also referred to as self-tests or over the counter (OTC) tests

Reporting your result — whether negative or positive — helps our nation learn how to use those test results effectively. Report your test results to public health agencies at MakeMyTestCount.org.


Need an At-home Test Right Away?


At-home Tests at Retailers and Pharmacies


Image of test kits on a table  

At-home tests are available for sale around the U.S.

Check with local retailers and pharmacies to see where at-home tests are available.


Thousands of Free Testing Sites


Sign outside of a COVID testing site.  

Low-cost or no-cost antigen and PCR COVID-19 tests may be available to people who are uninsured.

To access COVID-19 testing, contact a HRSA-funded health center or ICATT location near you to learn how to schedule low- or no-cost COVID-19 services and pharmacies provided by the federal government.


Test Results


What if I Test Positive?


An example of a positive COVID test  

A positive at-home test result means that the test found the virus, and you very likely have COVID-19.

If you test positive, follow the latest CDC guidance to prevent the spread of the virus.

Treatments for COVID-19 are now widely available. If you test positive and are at high risk for severe COVID-19 (age 50 and over or you have a weakened immune system or other health conditions), talk to a doctor as soon as possible about available treatment options. Use the ASPR Treatments Locator to find pharmacies, clinics, and other locations with safe and effective COVID-19 medications.

Nobody should pay full price for COVID-19 therapeutics. COVID therapeutics are covered under most major insurance programs, but you don't need insurance to get access to COVID-19 therapeutics. Patient assistance programs are available for eligible individuals.

What if I Test Negative?


An example of a negative COVID test  

A negative at-home test result means that the test did not find the virus, and you may have a lower risk of spreading COVID-19 to others. Check your test’s instructions for specific next steps.

Antigen tests are rapid tests that usually produce results in 15-30 minutes. Positive results are accurate and reliable. However, in general, antigen tests are less likely to detect the virus than PCR tests are, especially if you don’t have symptoms. Therefore, a single negative antigen test cannot rule out infection.

To be confident you do not have COVID-19, FDA recommends 2 negative antigen tests for people with symptoms or 3 antigen tests for people without symptoms, performed 48 hours apart. A single PCR test can be used to confirm an antigen test result.

Spread the Word


Social Media Sharing Keyboard  

Let others in your community know about the availability of free tests.

The COVID-19 At home Testing Digital Toolkit contains a variety of messages and graphics in English and Spanish that you can use on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, X, or Threads.