Our Costco has stopped selling COVID test kits. Just came back from there and asked again…not sure if it’s location specific or not. Also haven’t checked Costco online.
And yes, in Europe (German and Israel from personal experience) the tests run around $5/piece.
Our Costco is out, too, and there are none online.
Looks like Amazon has tests for around $8.
So I looked at the site again. I was looking for rapid Antigen tests…those are apparently not being given within a 100 mile radius.
PCR tests - with a 48 hr window for results - do seem to be available.
We have a CUE system which is very close in reliability to the PCR tests. So, the reason for me wanting to ‘officially’ test is that 1. I want the infection on my record and 2. I’d want Paxlovid as early as possible.
That said, my closest Walgreens didn’t have testing supplies and was having difficulty getting Paxlovid for those already positive and waiting.
I asked my PCP for a prophylactic round of Paxlovid because we are traveling quite a bit in the next few months. No can do. There is a shortage. Only allowed to prescribe for a verified infection. She suggested I could get the meds in Mexico and UK (two of the places I’m going). Um…I know the UK is very restrictive with prescription for Pax. No idea about Mexico.
The bigger question is…why…after 3.5 years into this thing is there a shortage!! I mean how can TPTB be surprised at increased demand after school started, new variants are rising and the vaccines aren’t really preventing infections. Kind of like calling the IRS on
April 1st and getting the ‘due to unusually high call volumes please try your call again later’…Um. harrumpf
Well, if Costco doesn’t carry them, then the pandemic is officially over/
On the other hand my Costco currently stocks - bathing suits - halloween costumes and Xmas decorations.
Lol. There is a two-story tall, motion-activated witch that has been on display at our Costco for at least a month already. I don’t know how anyone can work the food samples tables near that thing. It is beyond annoying! Yup. Halloween is in, Covid tests are out, apparently.
Ooooohhhhh…ours has the same witch. It scares little kids.
Sorry, I haven’t been checking Costco’s covid test supplies as I currently have enough. Maybe Sam’s Club?
Good idea to consider buying in Europe, since we’d only need backfill if we end up doing a lot of testing over next weeks (flying to a funeral in NY) and on trip. Looks like they are cheap and have english instructions.
H tested positive last night. Our free tests had all expired, so I masked and ran out to get a new box. I had a tough time finding tests and wound up at Target.
H has some cardiac issues, so he called his cardiologist who advised him to go to an urgent care and get evaluated. Paxlovid doesn’t interact well with one of his meds, so no go. He was prescribed cough medicine and a pain med for the horrendous headache. He’s camped out in the guest room and has been mostly sleeping today.
Two local high schools canceled their football game tonight because the teams have been hit with a lot of COVID cases
If paxlovid is a no-go, I thought there were alternative meds that could be prescribed. Molnupirovir is one.
Yes, have heard there are other options if patient can’t take paxlovid—iv or oral meds.
If the expiration date was a couple of months ago, chances are the tests are still good if you stored them in mild conditions. We store ours in the fridge… just like we would store reagents in the lab.
I’m sorry you are going through that. How long ago did your tests expire? Some have had their expiration dates extended.
And the football game… what state or region of the country are you in?
Regarding possibly expiring tests… isn’t the C line supposed to tell you if the test is still good?
Not sure. I know you can look the lot number up on the FDA website to see if the expiration date has been extended.
Yes, that is what we were told in a talk last year by a county health deputy director - if the control line displays, the test is still good. We still have a number of free tests (and stocked up via Medicare during the last two months we could). Some of the oldest tests in our supply had very faint control lines so I threw out the ones from those dates. But we still have a number with extended expiration dates into next year.
So far we haven’t needed to test much because our traveling is over for now, we dine only outdoors at restaurants, and still mask in most stores. But it seems like the need might likely increase moving into this fall and winter. So we’re hanging onto them and hoping they are still active.
That Austrian web site mentioned in post #117 with 25 tests for €20 does ship to the US… but the shipping and customs fees are €99.
Still, 25 tests for €119 ($129) is about the same as the cheapest tests in the US. But if you buy more 25-packs, the shipping and customs fee stays at €99, so if you are stockpiling a lot of tests, that may be cheaper than buying in the US. (And you can also throw in some of the combo with flu and RSV tests.)
I believe Walmart has tests for about $8 apiece, at least that what online search showed.
I wonder if there are fewer people masked at weddings than at other events (not that there are ever many masked anywhere). You were glad to protect some unknown little girl who approached you at an airport, but not young children at a wedding?
I’m probably going to a family wedding in the fall (unless I back out, which I might do if there is a big surge or I just don’t want to feel uncomfortable being the only one masked). I will mask, and expect to be the only one. I will leave the reception early if I can’t be outdoors for most of it.