The Biden administration announced this week the revamp of the free COVID-19 testing program.
“Manufacturing COVID-19 tests in the United States strengthens our preparedness for the upcoming fall and winter seasons, reduces our reliance on other countries, and provides good jobs to hardworking Americans,” said Dawn O’Connell, the assistant secretary for preparedness and response, in the Department of Health and Human Services news release about the move.
Twelve laboratories around the nation are receiving a total $600 million in government funding to ramp up production of the tests and to help prevent a supply shortage in the winter months. One of those labs is OraSure Technologies in Bethlehem, Pa., which received an emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration in June 2021 for its COVID test, InteliSwab.
The news comes at a time of increased coronavirus transmission, though infections are overall more mild when compared to other periods of the pandemic — thanks to widespread immunity from previous exposure and from vaccines. But people in high-risk groups should still take precautions, and knowing whether you’re spreading the virus or not can help keep people safe.
When and where can I get the new tests?
As of Monday, Sept. 25, households can order up to four free tests at COVIDtests.gov. They’ll again be delivered to homes.
The announcement of the no-cost tests is a response to a recent national increase in cases, and the widespread circulation of the new variant, EG.5, or Eris. HHS said the mailed tests should be able to capture recent mutations of the virus.
What about old home tests?
The government has updated expiration dates for many test kits, which can be reviewed at fda.gov. If you have extra coronavirus tests sitting at home, check the lot number and revised expiration date to see if they are still usable.
Dr. Marc Itskowitz, director of the Perioperative Medicine Center at Allegheny Health Network, advised against using expired tests.
The storage location of tests also matters: They should be stored in a cool, dry place, not a room, such as a bathroom, which acquires ample moisture.
“Check your COVID tests now,” said Dr. Graham Snyder, the medical director of infection prevention and hospital epidemiology at UPMC and an associate professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Pitt School of Medicine. “There is no guarantee that an expired test will work as it should.”
It’s also important to remember that rapid antigen tests are not as sensitive as polymerase-chain reaction (PCR) tests, which amplify coronavirus RNA and are extremely accurate. There’s a one in six chance that a home test will miss a positive COVID case, said Dr. Snyder.
“There is a trade-off of convenience with diagnostic accuracy,” said Dr. Snyder. “PCR testing is not as readily available as it once was, but people should still have access through medical care.”
Dr. Itskowitz agreed and said people should not use a single negative test to guide treatment. If you’re having symptoms and test negative, you should retest the next day or seek PCR testing, especially if you are part of a high-risk group or interact with people who are.
Many businesses, including Walgreens, still offer rapid antigen COVID test kits for sale for about $20 for two.Many businesses, including Walgreens, still offer rapid antigen COVID test kits for sale for about $20 for two.(Zoe Krey / Walgreens)
What if I need more than four tests?
The federal program allots one order per household, which comes with four tests. If you have more than four people in your household or want extra tests, they can still be bought at most pharmacies, for around $20 for two tests.
The Walgreens on Pine Avenue in Wexford confirmed that it has COVID tests in stock, one of many establishments that can be found via the CDC’s testing locator, where you can search availability by ZIP code. Also, many approved COVID tests can still be bought online.
The pandemic cracked open the veneer of equity within the health care system, as low-income people as well as Black, Hispanic and Native Americans and Alaska Natives bore the brunt of COVID. The current limit of free COVID tests is “part of a broader conversation about [access to] public health resources in America,” said Dr. Snyder. “The government response is a good thing; it will alleviate some barriers. But we need to make sure those tests get into the hands of people with financial considerations or where getting to a doctor may be difficult.”
Dr. Itskowitz didn’t think four tests would be enough for most large families but expected relevant governing bodies to shift to responses in demand if pandemic conditions changed.
Is testing still important?
“There’s still a lot of COVID around, and knowing you have it means you can act accordingly,” said Dr. Snyder. “I understand it’s exhausting, but unfortunately it’s what the earth has thrown at us.”
Dr. Itskowitz wanted to remind people that their behavior impacts the health of others — especially when interacting with older folks, people with compromised immune systems or pregnant women.
“If you have a fever or a cough that appears contagious, it’s a good idea not to spread that to others,” he said. “There’s a courtesy here, but for higher-risk patients, there could also be a severe impact.”
“We still have people dying who otherwise wouldn’t be dying if they didn’t have COVID,” Dr. Snyder said. “It is, for better or worse, still a part of our lives.”
