Effective September 25, 2023, every U.S. household can again place an order for additional free COVID-19 rapid tests. Four COVID-19 tests are available for each household and will be delivered directly to your home.
To access the tests, log in to covid.gov/tests. The process is simple and takes only a few minutes. Tests arrive in approximately one week.
Rapid Test Details
The tests that are sent:
- Are rapid antigen at-home tests, not PCR
- Can be taken at home or other locations and give results within 30 minutes (no lab drop-off required)
- Can be used for testing whether you have COVID-19 symptoms or not
- Can be used for testing whether you are up-to-date on your COVID-19 vaccines or not
- Are also referred to as self-tests or over-the-counter (OTC) tests
Test Expiration Date Extensions
The covid.gov website also has posted a list of expiration date extensions for COVID-19 tests. All at-home COVID-19 tests are labeled with an expiration date printed on the packaging. Generally, tests should not be used beyond this expiration date. However, these expiration dates can be extended beyond the date printed on the package as additional stability data is collected. Information on these extensions can be found on the covid.gov website.
Two Employer Considerations
Employers may want to proactively notify employees of the availability of additional test kits. This will help ensure that employees have tests on hand for at-home testing if they or a family member becomes ill.
Employers would also be wise to familiarize themselves with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations for isolation and precautions for people with COVID-19.
