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COVID-19 home tests: Where to find these in-demand products

Anjalee Khemlani
·Senior Reporter
·4-min read

The surge of the Omicron variant in the U.S. has created an unprecedented demand for COVID-19 testing at-large, whether for rapid antigen tests or more sensitive PCR tests typically done in clinical settings.

Hours-long lines at testing sites and out of stock signs at pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens face consumers at every turn. While PCR remains the gold standard for detecting the virus, antigen tests are increasingly useful for catching positive cases as they can be used quickly and more frequently.

While testing can help detect early stages of infection, Centers for Disease and Control Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky noted last month that people can get positive tests weeks after an infection. That's why new CDC guidelines don't require asymptomatic people to take COVID tests after five days of isolation.

Manufacturers contracted with retailers to carry the tests in 2021, and the White House contracted with some retailers to provide the tests at a low cost. Those contracts expired at the end of 2021 and prices have since increased, in part due to spiking demand.

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Abbott's (ABT) BinaxNOW remains the most recognizable product among at-home tests, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized several others that can also be found on the shelves — when they are in stock.

There are currently two types of at-home products available. The first is at-home tests that can deliver results within 15 or so minutes. The other is at-home collection kits, which make it easier to mail out test samples for a lab to process and deliver results within a few days.

At-home testing

Rapid at-home tests are sold at all major grocery retailers and pharmacies, including Walmart (WMT) and Amazon (AMZN), as well as CVS (CVS), Walgreens (WBA), Rite-Aid (RAD) and Kroger (KR). In December, due to the surge in cases and demand, many began to limit the number of boxes per customer. Walmart limited the number to eight per person, while CVS limited customers to six, and Walgreens limited customers to four boxes.

Abbot's BinaxNOW, with prices ranging from $19 to $24, is the most widely available and recognized. Quidel's (QDEL) QuickVue, OraSure's (OSUR) IntelliSwab, Becton Dickinson's (BDX) Veritor, Ellume's COVID-19 Home Test, ACON's Flowflex, and Intrivo's On/Go test are also available at most of the contracted retailers and online, with prices ranging from $25 to $40 per box.

iHealth's rapid test is available on its website, with a limit of 10 boxes per order at $28 each, or at retailers like Kroger for $35. Some products are single tests per box, while others come in pairs.

Amazon has some tests in stock, but delivery times are delayed as much as two weeks. Invitro's On/Go, for example, is available for $24.88, but delivery dates are estimated nine to 15 days out. BD's Veritor is also available for $34.28, but delivery is estimated two or more weeks out.

These tests have also been found at smaller, independent pharmacies, if they happen to have any in stock. But prices vary widely, and can be nearly double the cost at retailers. One pharmacy in Queens, N.Y., for example, charged $80 for four tests in late December, nearly double the retail store price. One pharmacy in Austin, Texas, charged $20 per box, but has been sold out for three weeks as of early January. And Capsule, a New York City-based online pharmacy, offers same-day delivery of at-home rapid tests for about $20 for one test.

At-home collection

Collection kits offer an alternative to standing in line, as they provide ways to collect a nasal swab or saliva sample for the more accurate PCR tests. While not as popular an option as antigen tests, they are available at some retail stores at a higher cost than rapid tests.

These options include LabCorp's (LH) Pixel, Binx Health's Simplicity, DxTerity's saliva test, and myLAB BOX's test. Most of these are upwards of $80. LabCorp's, for example, is sold at Walgreens for $120. Amazon has also jumped in on the collection kit action, launching its own, branded, collection kit — FDA authorized, but currently sold out — for $40.

Follow Anjalee on Twitter @AnjKhem

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