I think a lot of folks aren’t willing to get a PCR test and at home tests are better than nothing, especially with the lag in results. Yes, there can be false negatives but at least it’s a tool that folks can use if they are trying to stay safe and protect vulnerable people but are trying to decide whether it’s allergy or something more.
I admit we have used the at home tests in this manner and it was reassuring. We didn’t have any known exposure and DO have allergies.
My friend used hers when she got it (free in mail from fed govt) and learned in addition to having a flare up of her health condition she was+ for Covid. She tested again the next day, still +. Tested with PCR and again +. It was helpful to get and folks she had been aroun—she notified them so they could test and take precautions.
@CTTC I assume anyone with a PO Box can get the test. When I went to register for mine, there was an option to enter a PO Box as your address. There are people that only have a PO Box, so one would think, this is allowed.
My husband registered and they will arrive Monday; I don’t believe he did anything wrong by registering. Of course when this free test were originally decided on, finding test kits locally were next to impossible for most. Now not only are they available, many insurance companies will reimburse you for the cost.
The ones we received are going to my mother and MIL. If they expire before anyone needs them, I will then provide them with the ones I purchased. I think of this like a epi-pen; glad to have it, and hope to never need to use it!
PCR tests were extremely difficult to get here in Southern California when I tested positive (with mild symptoms) on a home test at the beginning of January. Doctors here told us not to try and get a PCR test if our symptoms were mild.
It’s sad that PCR tests are still so difficult to get after all this time. I am always able to get one, however, though sometimes it takes hours of searching on the internet to find a place. Anyone in the Seattle are who wants one, try a Google search for Polyclinic Covid testing and often you can book one immediately.
It’s possible to find PCR tests in CT…but sometimes not quickly and sometimes not at a close to home location.
But I’ve had three PCR tests…and none have cost me anything…Medicare person here. Our state picks up the tab for anything that Medicare doesn’t cover…or at least that’s what I was told.
I am luck that there is a free county drive up testing site a couple of miles from my house and work. My husband test weekly, and I go as needed. When someone in our clinic, or their family members test positive, I test later that week; I don’t want to take Covid to my mother. Other than during Christmas when the line was almost 2 hours long, at the most, there would be 2 cars in front of me. I have joked that it took longer to fill my tank with gas than it took to have a PCR test!
I ordered our homes test thru USPS but have not receive yet. But had ordered some before the holidays from Amazon and Walmart. And our county is also giving them away (and now N95s too), so we have plenty of inventory in our house.
We gave some of the kits to elderly neighbors (who did not know and/or could not go pick them up) and just gave a bunch to a relative to take back to his country with him (they cannot get tests or N95s there).
I kinda feel like (or at least hope) that once every American is loaded up on test and masks, the pandemic will be over
I think the real value i these tests is that they are pretty accurate telling you if you will spread the virus if you are in unprotected contact with others. So you know whether to go to school, work, etc. And if you have Covid, the test will tell you when it’s safe to go back. The PCR is a different kind of test.
I had a cold last week, and fortunately I live in NYC where tests (both kinds) are readily available. The antigen test was negative (found out in 15 minutes); the PCR was too, found out the next day.
When D was running a fever, it was a challenge for me to get her scheduled for a convenient drive up PCR test. She ended up going to urgent care, where she was tested for flu, UTI and also got a PCR for Covid. She also took several home tests. She really doesn’t want to get H, me or 92 year old grandma ill.
The soonest I could book nearby PCR drive up test was after she was able to get the PCR at urgent care, so we were able to cancel the drive up test.
Turns out D didn’t have any of the things she was tested for, “just flare of chronic mono.” We we’re glad she had home tests so she could have sone reassurance she wasn’t going to give all of us Covid, tho she and we still masked and distanced until after urgent care PCR results.
I just wish our tests would come – signed up on 01/18, and have yet to hear anything. If I had symptoms, I guess at this point I would try to find a PCR test. I assume they aren’t as difficult to find as they were when Omicron was spiking.
Ordered mine the first day ordering was available; I think I participated as a ‘guest’ and did not leave an email, so no confirmation. The next day I saw a different link and wondered if i had used the correct link so tried again and it said that my address had previously ordered. Then I saw questions about only one valid address in some multifamily buildings, so I assumed someone else in my building ordered before me and I was out of luck.
Yesterday USPS (I do have a USPS account) notified me (as Covid test recipient) to expect delivery on Friday.
Ordered the day before the official first day (when they opened the website early) and still have yet to receive them. By the time we do local infection rates will likely be negligible. That’s 27 days and counting.
I am pretty impressed that they managed to acquire and deliver so many tests in a month. Maybe the supply chain for tests is such that they are sending them out as they receive them.
I ordered the second it was available. so they are definately not using FIFO, and if they were doing it by zip code, why would my neighbor get theirs 2 weeks ago. I just think I am not getting them, and if I need tests will purchase them.
