- Testing is one essential tool
to help contain the spread of the coronavirus,
but nearly two years into the pandemic,
high demand for at-home tests have left major retailers
struggling to keep kits stocked in stores.
Here's what you need to know about these at-home tests
including where to get them, how they work,
and when to take them.
Viral tests are categorized based on what they look for.
Molecular tests look for the virus's genetic material
while antigen tests look for viral proteins.
- The rapid antigen tests have one big advantage
which is that a consumer can actually use it in their home
and get an answer in less than half an hour.
So the rapid antigen tests have convenience going for them
and relatively low cost and a rapid result.
- Sort of like a pregnancy test,
if viral antigens are detected on a rapid antigen test,
a line on a test strip turns dark.
- You go to the grocery store, you go to the CVS,
and you buy one of the rapid antigen tests,
you see that it comes with two tests
and the reason it comes with two tests
is not so you can test two people.
It's actually that in order to increase the sensitivity
and the accuracy of the test,
you're supposed to test yourself twice.
And what you do is let's say,
I'm gonna go visit my mom tomorrow.
I will test today 24 hours before and I
will test myself again tomorrow, right, before I go over there.
- PCR tests, a type of molecular test,
are widely considered to be more reliable.
However, most require a laboratory setting
and can take up to several days to return a result.
- It's really the gold standard for diagnosis
in many infectious diseases.
The problem with PCR tests is that it detects,
you know, genetic material of the virus.
So even after the virus is gone,
you may still have remnants of virus
and that's a reason why after you've been diagnosed,
we recommend people don't repeat a PCR for about 90 days
because it could potentially be positive
yet you're not infectious.
- Despite both tests' accuracy,
testing too soon after being exposed with COVID-19
can produce a false negative.
This is because a person's viral load changes
over the course of the infection.
- Most of the time, you have to wait about three to five days
after you've had contact with an individual
to be absolutely sure that you're not infected.
- These test kits,
which generally cost anywhere from $10 to $30
can be purchased online or at a local pharmacy.
But there's no guarantee of availability.
- The reason that we've tried to ramp up
testing in the month of December is two-fold.
Number one, the omicron variant is more infectious
than its antecedent variants were.
So it becomes quite urgent to get folks tested
if the virus is circulating at a higher frequency.
The second reason is the travel inherent
in the end of the school
semesters at the time that family travel ramps up
for Hanukkah and Christmas and New Years.
So at the end of the day, you've had more demand.
- Some critics say the US has failed to make tests
as readily accessible as they are in other countries.
- In a public health emergency like the one we have,
this test should be readily available
just as easily to get a face mask
or you could get, you know, many other things.
- President Biden responded to the supply scramble
by announcing that a half billion free rapid tests
will start being delivered to homes in January.
- We'll be getting these tests to Americans for free.
And we'll have websites where you can get them
delivered to your home.
- This is a good strategy
and to allow you to do certain things.
I mean, to have family gatherings,
to be able to open schools,
to be able to have business running.
I mean, lots of things to be done
if we use this tests in a productive way.
It's such a critical tool to fight, you know,
this omicron spike.