Sam's Club has for its
Members: 2-Count BinaxNOW COVID‐19 Antigen Self Test on sale for
$14. Choose free store pickup where stock permits, otherwise
shipping is free for
Plus Members.
- Note: Availability for free store pickup may vary by location. Membership is required to complete an in-club or curbside pickup purchase at Sam's Club.
Thanks to community member
greygooser for finding this deal.
Features:
- A simple solution for COVID-19 infection detection
- Rapid results in the convenience of your home
- No need to ship samples or get a prescription
- Includes illustrated step-by-step instructions
- FSA/HSA Eligible Item
- Simply test yourself twice within 3 days, with at least 36 hours between tests
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A lot of questions hopefully I can clear some up.
This tests for the viral particles itself (antigen) so an active infection. This does not test for antibodies or immunity. This rapid test was given and EUA or emergency use authorization which means it doesn't have full FDA approval but the FDA thinks there is enough evidence to provide some utility for making the test available prior to doing a full review on it.
This rapid test is nowhere near as sensitive or as a PCR test. In other words it has the potential for a lot of false negatives meaning that the test tells you that you don't have COVID when you really do. And that's because of the different technology. With PCR you have an amplification of genetic material so it's like those cop shows where even the smallest amount of genetic material is copied and then tested to see if there is a match. With this test there has to be enough material already for it to show a positive without replicating any material. That is why this works best for someone with symptoms because if it is COVID they likely have enough virus for the test to pick it up. The good news is that it is pretty specific so if you do pop a positive then it's pretty likely that you do have COVID. (Well I guess that wouldn't be good news).
Here's the FDA fact sheet on the EUA for this specific test.
https://www.fda.gov/media/141570/download
So in my opinion this test is better suited for people who are symptomatic who want to know if it's COVID or some other kind of cold like illness. It's okay for surveillance but it's not going to be sensitive enough if you don't have symptoms for anything really crucial. So any real critical use case like say visiting an unvaccinated grandparent, I would not trust it enough. Also keep in mind you really should follow it up with a second test, ideally a PCR. So for instance we had to use one this weekend for my daughter. She developed mild symptoms but since the healthcare system is so swamped our pediatrician declined to test her since she had such mild symptoms. I did another rapid test (couldn't find this one) on her and she was negative. So we used that to guide our level of quarantine for her at home. We're both vaccinated but her sister is too young. We're still keeping her home until the PCR results come in.
Also keep in mind that the test only detects virus at the time you take it. It sounds obvious but remember when you test in your clinical course can have a huge factor on what the test shows. If you take it too early or too late there might not yet be enough virus in the sample for the test to detect it. That's why they give you two and tell you to take the other one 36 hours after the first one to give you a much better predictor on if you have COVID.
But remember the best thing you can do to help yourself, your loved ones and your community is mask up around others and GET VACCINATED!
Stay safe
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Cause most rapid tests are not free, and a PCR test can take up to a few days to get a result. With how inaccurate these rapid tests are though, I actually just realized there really is no point in taking them cause you can't trust it anyways lol.
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Test given by state health departments are free. However, it's hard to get an appointment. If you have health insurance, they are free. I went a few weeks ago to one of the Urgent Care where you could get tested. If you didn't have insurance, it was $185. Thankfully, I have very good health insurance.
To get tested in my area, you have to make an appointment about a week out.