How Accurate Are At-Home COVID-19 Tests?

Rapid home COVID-19 tests are accurate about 80% of the time in people who are infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. This is compared to PCR tests, which are accurate about 95% of the time.

The FDA has approved a wide variety of at-home COVID-19 tests. Most of these are rapid antigen tests, which provide results at home within a few minutes. PCR tests can also be taken at home, but the sample must be sent to a laboratory for results.

This article will discuss the at-home COVID-19 tests that are available and explain what you should know about the accuracy of the results.

How Accurate Are At-Home Tests?

At-home COVID-19 tests can be very accurate, but their accuracy depends on several factors.

There are two basic types of at-home COVID-19 tests:

• Polymer chain reaction (PCR) tests
• Rapid antigen tests

For both types, you collect a sample from your nose or mouth with a swab or collect a sample of your saliva in a tube.

Accuracy of PCR Tests

Considered the “gold standard” in the U.S., PCR tests are the most accurate type of COVID-19 test. PCR tests are done in a laboratory using an enzyme solution and extreme magnification. Specialized machines amplify and analyze the sample, detecting genetic information from the SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. 

But PCR tests are not perfect. Even though these tests are very good at detecting genetic material from a virus, COVID-19 only has an infectious period of about nine days. However, the virus can be shed for much longer. This can lead to a person testing positive even when they are no longer capable of spreading the virus.

Accuracy of Rapid Antigen Tests

Rapid tests are accurate, though not as accurate as a PCR test. Test results are less accurate if you test when you don't have symptoms, or if you test too soon after you've been exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

For example, if you test too soon after exposure or do not have symptoms when you test, you might get a negative result even though you are sick and capable of spreading the virus.

There hasn't been much research into which of the many available rapid COVID-19 tests are most accurate. This means it's impossible to recommend one rapid antigen test over another. More importantly, the accuracy of home COVID-19 tests usually depends more on when you test and whether or not you test according to the instructions.

Many rapid antigen tests are meant to be used as a series. This means if you get a negative result, you should test again in 24 to 48 hours. More than one negative test result means you are less likely to be infected with COVID-19.

At-Home Test Options

While samples for both PCR and rapid antigen tests can be collected at home, only antigen tests can give immediate results without the need to send the sample to a lab for testing.

Some of the available PCR home collection test kits include:

• Color COVID-19 Self-Swab Collection Kit
• Cue COVID-19 Test
• EmpowerDX COVID-19 Home Collection Kit DTC
• Everlywell COVID-19 Test Home Collection Kit
• Kwokman Diagnostics COVID-19 Home Collection Kit
• Pinpoint by Phosphorus COVID-19 Test Home Collection Kit DTC
• Pixel by LabCorp COVID-19 Test Home Collection Kit
• Quest COVID-19 PCR DTC
• WREN Laboratories COVID-19 PCR Test
  

PCR home tests generally cost over $100, but some insurance companies may cover part or all of the cost.

Some examples of home antigen tests include:

• BinaxNOW COVID-19 Antigen Self Test
• CareStart COVID-19 Antigen Home Test
• Flowflex COVID-19 Antigen Home Test
• Celltrion DiaTrust COVID-19 Ag Home Test
• iHealth COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test
• InteliSwab COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test
• QuickVue At-Home OTC COVID-19 Test
• SCoV-2 Ag Detect Rapid Self-Test

Rapid antigen home tests usually cost between $15 and $25. However, ongoing supply and demand problems in certain areas may cause the price to increase.

When to Test

If you have symptoms of COVID-19, an at-home test is one way to get quick and relatively reliable results. Once symptoms have appeared, the amount of virus in your body (viral load) is high, which means the antigens are more likely to be picked up by a test.

COVID-19 symptoms usually appear two to 14 days into infection. You might consider an at-home COVID-19 test if you have:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

An antigen test will likely provide accurate results if you have symptoms and take a rapid at-home test. Where an antigen test is lacking is in testing asymptomatic people, including people who are testing because they were exposed to someone who was sick.

PCR testing is the more accurate of the two tests in people with no symptoms, but it’s still possible to test too early with a PCR test.

If you need to confirm a positive result from a rapid test or check the results of a negative rapid test, a PCR test is helpful. If you tested negative on a rapid home test but still have COVID-19 symptoms, it’s a good idea to have a PCR test done as well.

What to Do With Your Test Results

Your results might have different implications depending on several factors that are unique to you and your situation, including:

• The type of test you took
• When you took the test
• The reason you took the test
• Whether you have any symptoms
  

Negative Test Result

• If the results of your COVID-19 test were negative and you had symptoms at the time of the test, chances are the result is accurate and your symptoms were caused by another infection or virus. However, if your symptoms continue, you may want to do another test to confirm your result. You should also continue to isolate while you are sick.
• If the results were negative and you have no symptoms, your result is likely negative. However, if your exposure to COVID-19 was recent, you may want to repeat the test to be sure.
• If you were exposed to someone with COVID-19, you are not vaccinated, you are asymptomatic, and your test result was negative, you need to quarantine for 14 days. Your test may have been done too early to provide accurate results.
• If you are not confident that your results were accurate and you used an at-home rapid antigen test, you may want to take a PCR test to confirm or check the results.
  

Positive Test Result

• If your COVID-19 test is positive, you need to isolate yourself to avoid spreading the virus to others.
• You should also notify your close contacts of your positive test result.
• Make sure to call your doctor to discuss your diagnosis or treatment.
  

Summary

Hundreds of tests have been approved to help detect and diagnose cases of COVID-19. There are many accurate tests for COVID-19 that you can do at home, but variables like when you take the test and how you collect the sample can affect your results.

If you have symptoms, both tests can provide accurate results; however, the rapid antigen test can deliver results faster and for a lower cost. If you are not having symptoms but have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, PCR testing is the most effective at detecting the virus.

Regardless of the test that you choose, limit your contact with others if you are sick, and do not put off getting medical care if needed.

The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit our coronavirus news page.