How Can I Order My Free COVID Test?

Americans will be able to order free COVID-19 tests starting Monday after the Biden Administration revived the mail-order testing program ahead of another fall flu season.

How do I order a rapid COVID test, and how many can I get?

Consumers can go to the government website and order a maximum of four rapid tests per household. 

When will my rapid COVID test arrive?

According to the website, orders will begin shipping on October 2nd. 

Why does my COVID test say it’s expired?

The website also says that some tests may look like they are expired because of the date on the box, but the Food and Drug Administration has extended the expiration deadlines on multiple rapid tests. The agency updates their expiration dates based on real-world data on how long these rapid tests deliver reliable results. 

Updated expiration dates can be seen on the agency’s website. 

Didn’t they shut this program down? Why are they bringing back the free COVID test program?

Previously, there were four rounds of free rapid tests mailed to American households who requested them. The program was shuttered in May, but the program is being reopened ahead of the fall and winter season where cases are once again expected to rise.

The United States is currently experiencing a COVID surge, and hospitalizations have been increasing since July, according to the latest official data. 

“If there is a demand for these tests, we want to make sure that they're made available to the American people for free in this way,” Dawn O’Connell, the assistant secretary for preparedness and response at the Department of Health & Human Services, told the Associated Press Wednesday. “But, at this point, our focus is getting through the holidays and making sure folks can take a test if they're going to see Grandma for Thanksgiving."

Are there going to be COVID test shortages again?

They said that twelve manufacturers in the United States have been given funding to produce more than 200 million rapid tests, which the administration says will help protect the supply chain from a shortage. 

The HHS Secretary, Xavier Becerra, said in a statement on Wednesday that the "Biden-Harris Administration, in partnership with domestic manufacturers, has made great strides in addressing vulnerabilities in the U.S. supply chain by reducing our reliance on overseas manufacturing.”