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:
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.
Verywell / Joules Garcia
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.
Both tests can detect infection with the virus that causes COVID-19, but the sensitivity levels of each are different.
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:
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:
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.
Accuracy is not the only consideration when you’re choosing which COVID-19 test to take. PCR testing takes longer but is more accurate. Generally, rapid antigen tests are the better choice if you need results right away.
PCR testing is preferred to confirm or diagnose infection, but these tests can show positive results for a long time—even after an isolation period would end. If you are trying to decide whether or not to isolate, it can take much longer to get results from a PCR test than a rapid test.
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:
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.
If you have severe symptoms, whether they’re from COVID-19 or not, getting a test is not the priority. You need to seek emergency medical care if you have symptoms such as:
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:
Negative Test Result
The FDA recommends the following if you receive a negative test:
Positive Test Result
If you receive a positive result initially or on a repeat test, you most likely have COVID-19. The CDC recommends taking the following precautions to protect yourself and others:
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.
Can I do a PCR test at home?
Most PCR testing is done in a lab or healthcare facility, but you can also use the kits at home. Some manufacturers or labs offer kits that let you collect a sample at home for PCR testing, but you still need to send your sample to the lab for analysis before you will get the results.
Learn More:
COVID-19 Home Tests: What You Need to Know
Will a rapid test work if I do not have any COVID-19 symptoms?
How well a rapid test works depends on various factors. For example, you might take the test when you do not have any noticeable COVID-19 symptoms. While you may not feel symptomatic when you take a rapid test, your immune system could be hard at work keeping symptoms from developing. Rapid tests generally are not as accurate when you have no symptoms, but they can still detect COVID-19 in about half of all cases.
Learn More:
People With Asymptomatic COVID-19 May Have Higher White Blood Cell Counts: Study
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.
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