The days of free at-home COVID-19 tests may be over, but the virus certainly hasn’t gone away. With symptoms that overlap with the flu (like a runny nose, fatigue, and headache) and the latest highly transmissible variant making its rounds, it’s a smart idea to keep some rapid tests on hand and ready to go — especially if you’ve got travel, visiting travelers or students who’ve made their return to schools.
These four-step tests are easy to perform at home.
First, insert the nasal swab about 3/4 of an inch into one nostril and rotate it in circles to collect a sample, then repeat with the other nostril.
Next, open the liquid solution, pour it into the test’s provided vial and swirl the swab inside the vial 15 times.
After that, place the dropper cap on the vial and squeeze exactly three drops of the liquid onto the rapid test. Wait 15 minutes, then read the result to see if it’s positive or negative. Simple, easy and (mostly) effortless.
