Home COVID tests

Public Health
Written By Lauren Jenks

Has it been easier to find COVID tests recently? You can order some from the federal government or, in Washington, from the state. 

These tests are antigen tests. This means that they look for antigens, which are the outer parts of the coronavirus that trigger your body to produce antibodies. Antigen tests are most accurate when you have a lot of virus in your nose. Generally, that would be when you have symptoms or it has been 3-5 days after you were exposed to COVID. If you use an antigen test and it is positive, that is very likely to be accurate. But, if it is negative, that might mean that you don’t have COVID, or it might mean that you have been exposed very recently and you don’t have enough virus in your body yet to trigger a positive result.

Photo by author on a very good day

I got my tests! Now when should I use them?

In general, you should take a COVID test if you have symptoms or if you know you have been exposed to COVID. Remember—the tests expire, so there is no point in hoarding them. 

  • You have symptoms. Maybe you feel run down, headachy, sore throat or like you are coming down with something. This is a good time to use one of your tests. If the test is negative it probably means you have something else making you feel crummy. If your symptoms get worse talk to your health care provider about whether it is a good idea to take another test. 

  • You know you have been exposed to COVID. Your test is most likely to be accurate if you test 3-5 days after you have been exposed or as soon as you develop symptoms.

    • For example, if a family member who lives with you tests positive, you have been exposed and should test yourself. If you test negative, and you don’t develop any symptoms, test again about 5 days after your loved one’s isolation period is over. If you get symptoms at any point during that time, take another test. 

  • Something sketchy just happened and now I’m worried that I might get COVID. If you find yourself in a more crowded area than you anticipated or if the neighbor kid coughs on you, unfortunately, your tests won’t help yet. It takes time for the virus to infect you and for you to test positive. Test if you have symptoms or if you find out the neighbor kid actually does have COVID-19. Make sure to wear a mask and stay six feet away from others while you are waiting to test. 

  • I want to visit a friend who's at risk of getting very sick from COVID. Taking a test can add a reassuring layer of protection to the other things you are doing to protect yourself and others. Even if everyone you are gathering with tests negative, it still makes sense to gather outside or somewhere with great ventilation, stay six feet apart, wear masks indoors, and make sure that you are fully vaccinated and boosted, if you are eligible.

What should I do if I test positive? 

If you test positive on a home test, unless you feel very sick and need care, you do not need to go to the doctor or get a different test.  

  • Start isolating yourself from others right away and for at least 5 days. After 5 full days, if you haven’t had a fever for at least 24 hours and your other symptoms have improved, you can end your isolation. If you test positive and never get symptoms, isolate for 5 days after the positive test. Make sure to wear a mask around others (even at home) for another 5 days. 

  • Open your WA Notify app on your phone and request a verification code. This will anonymously let people who have been physically close to you in the last couple of days know that they may have been exposed to COVID.

  • Tell the people you had contact with in the two days before your symptoms started that they may have been exposed.

OK, now I'm out of tests.

No problem. There are several ways you can get COVID-19 tests:

And if you just can’t find a test when you need it, and you feel sick or have COVID symptoms, assume you have COVID-19 and stay home.

Lauren Jenks
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