Free COVID home tests

The contents of the testing kits exist, but the packaging, instructions, etc. doesn’t. So just another government effort gone awry, at least temporarily

As a point of interest, it was said over the weekend that the U. S. Postal System was going to do the packaging and delivery. They can’t handle an envelope, why should we think than can deliver 500 million small boxes?

The process is pretty simple to order see https://special.usps.com/testkits

Yep, that's the link I used, plain and simple.

According to NPR's ATC tonight, the one issue that has happened to some folks who live in apartments is that when filling out the online form and placing the street address and apartment number on the first mandatory address field, the system sometimes replies that an order has already been placed for that address. This can be avoided by placing the street address in the first mandatory field, then placing the apartment number in the second optional address field.

My access to the website was fast and my order was placed quickly. I provided my optional email address so that I'd get a reply and already have two USPS emails. I must admit I was suitably impressed with how well the system worked and that it also was made available a day before its official rollout tomorrow.

Checking just a few seconds ago, I see that over 262,000 people are online at the USPS Covid order site right now and another 165,000 on the https://www.covidtests.gov/ Covid pre-order site.

https://analytics.usa.gov/

As soon as I saw it on the news this morning, I went to the web site and ordered my tests. Here is hoping that my wife and I never have a need to use them.

I just ordered my test kit.

Thanks for the information.

We placed our order yesterday. Hopeful that we don't need to use one, but like a spare tire it's good to have one if needed.

We got our test kits on order yesterday morning, and everything work just fine, even when my son ordered his with his address and apt no.

Took every bit of 1 minute. I hope that I never need to use them but they will be nice to have if I do. My wife and I have both been boosted so hopefully, they will sit on the shelf and in ten years I will be able to sell them as a reminder of what we have been through the last two years. Or maybe, at that time, I will just take them out in the back yard, pour gasoline on them and set them on fire. (Hopefully, this will be behind us in a few months.)

I bought a box which has two tests intended to be used by one person one day after another sometime in October. That box is so far unused, and has a printed expiration date some time this month.

So I'll wait before joining the line for the Postal Service operated deployment.

Lest we forget, hardly anyone was buying these things for several months after they became available, which has a lot to do with why there was not an infinite supply sitting on the shelves when people suddenly decided they wanted them after all.

Thank you for share the information

Ordered 1/18/22 via the USPS link. No problems, took 2 minutes.

Should be interesting watching the Postal Service do their normal SNAFU when the load overwhelms them.

On 12/27/2001 I shipped a small 3oz package to utah (6x10 padded envelope). It got delivered today. Service was usps first class parcel.

The last Covid rapid test I purchased cost me $38 for a single test. Since I had been looking for tests since before Christmas, I figured I might not have another chance and went ahead and purchased it. I ordered my four free tests today. Heard that some insurance companies will pay for up to eight rapid tests per month, but not Medicare. Being the most vulnerable group, you'd think that the elderly would be covered for the the eight tests per month also.
Mark

And received reply saying scheduling complete, test kits will be sent as soon as container ship docs.

Current docking schedule is for August 2023

Ordered mine on the 18th and received it on the 20th.

Mary did you just get a conformation or the actual kits already. We ordered ours on the 18th also but nothing more but our conformation number?

I too, ordered on the 18th through the USPS link. Nothing yet, other than the confirmation.

What is the accuracy of these free tests?

Ordered mine on 1/18 and got a confirmation. Receive an email from USPS that it will be delivered today. Hoping I don’t have to use it.

Ordered 1/23. And now they are planning to distribute free N95 masks to local pharmacies.

My wife was at our local Hy-Vee grocery/pharmacy yesterday and they were handing out the free N95 masks ... 3 per person in your household. We have been using the KN95 masks, and the N95's are definitely superior ... don't fog up the glasses so much.

I received 2 boxes with 2 test in each.

Thanks Mary, they told us they would start shipping late January.

…can be found at https://health.osu.edu/health/virus-and-infection/home-covid...

on the special.USPS.com/ site

The (measured) party line is about 98%.

But it is important to bear in mind what question the main test types are best suited to answer.

PCR test (the big dog that has been running for the last two years) they swab you and you wait. A couple of hours if you are in the hottest queue, more like a couple of days most of the time.

This question is best suited to this situation:
I feel sick. Is my problem COVID-19?

Rapid Antigen Test (the things they are mailing out on request for free, where you swab yourself, and watch for an answer in 15 minutes)

This type of question:
Is it likely that I am right now actively putting out dangerous sharing of a COVID-19 infection so I should avoid visiting my grandparents?

The tests are good. They are not perfect.

to order, but will they ever come?

This looks promising..

https://i.imgur.com/qiQ783P.png

Placed the order through USPS today.

I'm not holding my breath.

The USPS has trouble delivering a single letter these days. I have no Idea how they are going to deliver 500 million test kits!

Here is an article of interest on their storage...

"You Might Be Storing Your At-Home COVID Tests Wrong

How and where you store a rapid test can impact its effectiveness."

By Elizabeth Yuko - Yesterday 11:00AM

https://lifehacker.com/you-might-be-storing-your-at-home-cov...

Good to know, since I don't have plans for immediate use.

The government has stated "Ensuring Equity and Reaching Hardest-Hit Communities: The Administration is taking a number of steps to ensure this program reaches our hardest-hit and highest-risk communities. This includes prioritizing processing orders to households experiencing the highest social vulnerability and in communities that have experienced a disproportionate share of COVID-19 cases and deaths, particularly during this Omicron surge; launching a free call line, so that Americans who have difficulty accessing the internet or need additional support can phone-in orders for their tests; and, working with national and local organizations with deep experience serving communities of color, people living with disabilities, and other high-risk communities to serve as navigators, raise awareness about the program, and help people submit requests."

I live in Chester Chester County PA which has the highest per capita income in the state and is #37 nationally so when taking into account the distribution scheme of the government, kits might take a few weeks. I'm aware of some people that ordered the kits on 01/18 but relatively few have been received.

I believe there is a limit of 4 per address, regardless of how many residents at that address.

Ordered on Jan. 18, received Feb. 1 ... not too bad! Two boxes with two tests in each box. Labeled as "QuickVue At-Home OTC Covid-19 Test", manufactured by Quidel, date: 2022-01-21, Expire: 2023-01-04.

I have USPS Informed Delivery, so saw the notice within an hour after they were left in my mailbox and retrieved them right away. The outdoor temp today was 37, so I think they will be OK.

In reading the instructions on the box, I note that the 4 tests only accommodate being tested twice (or 2 people each being tested once). When you use the testing kit, you are supposed to take two tests 24 to 36 hours apart.

^^Was yours made in china too?

There is nothing on the box that indicates they were made in China. According to this article they are made in San Diego.

still waiting for delivery

Whew thanks! Process was pretty easy! Now awaiting delivery.

Their corporate headquarters is in San Diego. Does not mean they were manufactured there. I couldn't find on their web site where manufacturing is.
BUT...at the top of the website you get a choice of English or CHINESE.

According to the article linked in my post above, they are made in San Diego. I suppose they could be lying or have manufacturing plants in other parts of the world that make the same products. I couldn't see anything on the packaging that indicated where it was manufactured.

Thanks