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Despite the recent ease of COVID-19 restrictions, nearly half of U.S. adults (47%) say they took an at-home COVID-19 test at some point in the past three months after feeling sick, according to new data from the Forbes Health-Ipsos Monthly Health Tracker survey.
Additionally, of the 1,120 U.S. adults polled between August 16 and 17, 65% stayed home or away from people they don’t live with if they felt ill, 44% isolated from people inside their household and 27% took a PCR COVID-19 test from a doctor or testing site. (Respondents could choose multiple answers.)
If you’re experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, such as a cough, fever or chills, or just want peace of mind when traveling and gathering with others, there are many testing avenues available.
iHealth COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test
iHealth COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test
Experts suggest it’s still a smart move to take the appropriate health measures if you think you were exposed to the COVID-19 virus. Regardless of vaccination status, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends masking up immediately. From there, watch for symptoms—such as a fever, cough or shortness of breath—and if they develop, the CDC recommends getting tested and isolating immediately. Even if you don’t experience symptoms, the CDC recommends testing five days after exposure.
There are a couple types of COVID-19 tests: PCR-based tests (called nucleic acid amplification tests), which are performed in a laboratory and detect genetic material of the virus, and antigen-based tests, which are rapid tests and a good option for people who want results quickly, as they provide a diagnosis in about 15 to 30 minutes. Most at-home COVID-19 tests are antigen-based tests, and the CDC emphasizes that a single antigen-based test does not rule out infection. Instead, a negative antigen test should be followed by another test 48 hours later.
When it comes to choosing the right test for your situation, you might be wondering where to start. Shelves are littered with different types of tests, so keep the following factors in mind when shopping.
U.S. households have the ability to order a limited number of free rapid tests from COVIDTests.gov, thanks to a White House initiative to increase the availability of tests.
If you’d rather select your own at-home COVID-19 test, start with these options.
Fast and convenient, with shipping included. Your sample is analyzed in a lab using gold standard RT-PCR/TMA. LetsGetChecked aims to deliver online results within 24-72 hours of receiving your sample. Suitable for ages 2+. Get 40% off your LetsGetChecked covid test with code FORBES40.
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Shawn is a dedicated news person who's produced content for print and online. He's worked in reporting, writing and editing roles across newsrooms like CNBC and Fox Digital, but he kicked off his career reporting on health for Healio.com. When Shawn isn't doing the news, he's probably deleting app notifications from his phone.
Sarah is an experienced writer and editor enthusiastic about helping readers live their healthiest and happiest lives. Before joining Forbes Health, Sarah worked as a writer for various digital publications including LendingTree, theSkimm, CNBC and Bankrate. When she isn’t writing or editing, you can find Sarah with her nose in a book or enjoying the outdoors with her French bulldog, Honey.