As a nurse practitioner, I just want to express my opinion from a healthcare perspective who recently had covid and went through these tests.
1. PCR testing will always be better at detection than rapid tests, but approved rapid tests are also very reliable. Timing of the tests is also very important.
a. That being said, I use a 2-prong approach when I tested myself.
2. The rapid tests may not seem "reliable" because you have to have enough of a viral load in order for it to be detected.
a. Imagine sand at the beach, sand on the pier or boardwalk, sand in your car on the drive home, and how much sand is in your car months later. Big difference right? Well the virus is microscopic and you can have very little amounts early, and then it MULTIPLES.
b. For this reason, you might need to re-test when symptomatic.
My COVID testing course:
1. Day #1 mild symptoms began the morning, I did a rapid test a few hours later, negative. Scheduled PCR, earliest available was next day
2. Day #1 more symptoms began that night, retested, still negative.
3. Day #2 PCR done in the morning. Repeated 3rd rapid test that afternoon, positive (faintly)
4. Day #4 PCR positive
5. **If my PCR and rapid tests came back negative, I probably would've repeated the PCR once more and maybe the rapid 1-2x further as I was symptomatic**
My advice is the following:
1. It is good to have options. We are fortunately enough to have rapid tests and PCR tests fairly readily available. Make good use of it if you're symptomatic. You MAY need to repeat tests. (Also, there are increased number of "fake" or unreliable rapid test kits - make sure to check with medical providers, the CDC, or your state's health dept. Binax is reliable.)
2. The govt gives 4 free kits, everyone should get it. If you don't need it, then good. Your neighbor, friend, or family may need it one day.
3. Insurance also reimburses for the kits - check with your insurance. I have BCBS and they will reimburse $12 per kit x 8 kit monthly (I think)
4. Be kind to others. We're all sitting in boats floating in the ocean amidst a storm that none of us wanted to be a part of.
2 tests or almost 3 rotisserie chickens, I know which choice I'm making.
Well, as of about an hour ago I can tell you these things work to tell you that you have Covid.
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I submitted mine the first day and I haven't get any test from the US government. Meanwhile, it was impossible to buy them few weeks ago.
6 am CST any morning and they are available at Walmart with free two day shipping if you order 2 and get above $35. I know my insurance will reimburse me, but such a hassle.
FYI I bought two for these a couple weeks ago. Our insurance said to get reimbursed thru Express Scripts, and they denied the claim saying it wasn't "an approved test". Had to put in a claim with health insurance which is still pending. Huge hassle
FYI I bought two for these a couple weeks ago. Our insurance said to get reimbursed thru Express Scripts, and they denied the claim saying it wasn't "an approved test". Had to put in a claim with health insurance which is still pending. Huge hassle
Same issue. They said it had to be a FDA approved test. But the tests are all Emergency Authorization Use only. Royal PITA.
FYI I bought two for these a couple weeks ago. Our insurance said to get reimbursed thru Express Scripts, and they denied the claim saying it wasn't "an approved test". Had to put in a claim with health insurance which is still pending. Huge hassle
Why even pay? You can get it for free from usps
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This isn't a real 2 count. You are supposed to take the 2 tests successively to get the confidence accuracy of the more recent tests that are single tests. I like flowflex which is $9.99 at walgreens.
This is actually not a difference of the BinaxNOW test, this is just a "recommendation" for all Antigen test if you have been exposed/showing symptoms. It takes several days after exposure to build up viral load to be detected. Kind of like a pregnancy test, a negative test 5 minutes after your Tinder "date" may not be accurate.
Why ? You can get it for free from usps (4 pack) 2 in each box
Probably because you need them now or soon and they haven't arrived yet. Some of us also have families and need more than 2 boxes of tests.
You may be able to get them from a pharmacy approved by your insurance without having to pay and get reimbursed. Also, some local and state governments give them out of free.
When some of my family had covid, the rapid test results matched the PCR tests but YMMV; these rapid tests are not as sensitive as the PCR.
thats a membership perk, bulker/lowest cost items. they make most their profit on memberships. I dont buy anything except price mistakes from Walmart, everything is garbage otherwise in pricing
It's fishy because Walmart was $14, then raised it to $19, and now Sam's is $14.
If Walmart could sell it for months at $14, then Sam's should be $9.
The fishy part is that all retailers are selling these at a substantial mark-up.
This is actually not a difference of the BinaxNOW test, this is just a "recommendation" for all Antigen test if you have been exposed/showing symptoms. It takes several days after exposure to build up viral load to be detected. Kind of like a pregnancy test, a negative test 5 minutes after your Tinder "date" may not be accurate.
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1. PCR testing will always be better at detection than rapid tests, but approved rapid tests are also very reliable. Timing of the tests is also very important.
a. That being said, I use a 2-prong approach when I tested myself.
2. The rapid tests may not seem "reliable" because you have to have enough of a viral load in order for it to be detected.
a. Imagine sand at the beach, sand on the pier or boardwalk, sand in your car on the drive home, and how much sand is in your car months later. Big difference right? Well the virus is microscopic and you can have very little amounts early, and then it MULTIPLES.
b. For this reason, you might need to re-test when symptomatic.
My COVID testing course:
1. Day #1 mild symptoms began the morning, I did a rapid test a few hours later, negative. Scheduled PCR, earliest available was next day
2. Day #1 more symptoms began that night, retested, still negative.
3. Day #2 PCR done in the morning. Repeated 3rd rapid test that afternoon, positive (faintly)
4. Day #4 PCR positive
5. **If my PCR and rapid tests came back negative, I probably would've repeated the PCR once more and maybe the rapid 1-2x further as I was symptomatic**
My advice is the following:
1. It is good to have options. We are fortunately enough to have rapid tests and PCR tests fairly readily available. Make good use of it if you're symptomatic. You MAY need to repeat tests. (Also, there are increased number of "fake" or unreliable rapid test kits - make sure to check with medical providers, the CDC, or your state's health dept. Binax is reliable.)
2. The govt gives 4 free kits, everyone should get it. If you don't need it, then good. Your neighbor, friend, or family may need it one day.
3. Insurance also reimburses for the kits - check with your insurance. I have BCBS and they will reimburse $12 per kit x 8 kit monthly (I think)
4. Be kind to others. We're all sitting in boats floating in the ocean amidst a storm that none of us wanted to be a part of.
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.
This is actually not a difference of the BinaxNOW test, this is just a "recommendation" for all Antigen test if you have been exposed/showing symptoms. It takes several days after exposure to build up viral load to be detected. Kind of like a pregnancy test, a negative test 5 minutes after your Tinder "date" may not be accurate.
You may be able to get them from a pharmacy approved by your insurance without having to pay and get reimbursed. Also, some local and state governments give them out of free.
When some of my family had covid, the rapid test results matched the PCR tests but YMMV; these rapid tests are not as sensitive as the PCR.
If Walmart could sell it for months at $14, then Sam's should be $9.
The fishy part is that all retailers are selling these at a substantial mark-up.
If Walmart could sell it for months at $14, then Sam's should be $9.
The fishy part is that all retailers are selling these at a substantial mark-up.
https://www.covidtests.