Over-the-counter COVID-19 testing now available at CVS Pharmacy (2024)

Retailer expands access to convenient, at-home testing options with new-to-market, home tests available in stores and online

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Pharmacy, the retail division of CVS Health (NYSE: CVS), today announced the availability of three over-the-counter COVID-19 testing options in stores and online.

The tests include the Ellume COVID-19 Home Test, the Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 Antigen Self Test and the Pixel by Labcorp PCR Test Home Collection Kit. All three tests have received FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), do not require a prescription, and are intended for use by individuals with or without symptoms. These options provide customers with access to convenient testing that can be conducted at home and complement CVS Health's commitment to providing consumers with access to comprehensive COVID-19 testing services.

"Access to testing continues to be an important part of the nation's pandemic response. Making OTC COVID-19 tests available to our customers helps remove barriers by providing convenient options for testing," said George Coleman, Senior Vice President and Chief Merchant, CVS Pharmacy. "CVS Health has been a leader in providing accessible testing in communities nationwide, and we continue to bring new solutions to market to ensure that consumers have a variety of COVID-19 testing options available to them."

The three testing options now available at CVS include:

  • Ellume COVID-19 Home Test Kit $38.99The Ellume COVID-19 Home Test has not been FDA cleared or approved; but has been authorized by the FDA under an emergency use authorization. This product has been authorized only for the detection of proteins from SARS-CoV-2, not for any other viruses or pathogens, and is only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circ*mstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use of in vitro diagnostics for detection and/or diagnosis of COVID-19 under Section 564(b)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the declaration is terminated or authorization is revoked sooner.: The first rapid, fully at-home test to receive Emergency Use Authorization by the FDA for at-home use without a prescription. The test delivers results in 15 minutes through a free app downloaded to a smartphone, without the need for a second test. CVS Pharmacy is the first retailer to carry the Ellume Home Test Kit. It will be in select locations in RI and MA the week of April 19, with increasing availability on CVS.com and in most CVS Pharmacy locations by the end of May.

  • Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 Antigen Self-Test $23.99The BinaxNOW COVID-19 Antigen Self Tests have not been FDA cleared or approved. They have been authorized by the FDA under an emergency use authorization. The tests have been authorized only for the detection of proteins from SARS-CoV-2, not for any other viruses or pathogens, and are only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circ*mstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use of in vitro diagnostics for detection and/or diagnosis of COVID-19 under Section 564(b)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the declaration is terminated or authorization is revoked sooner.: Reliable fully at-home test for surveillance and frequent use delivers results in 15 minutes. The box contains two tests which should be administered twice over three days with at least 36 hours between tests. The test is available at CVS.com and in 5,600 CVS Pharmacy locations as the week of April 19, with additional locations to follow.

  • Pixel by Labcorp Home Collection KitPixel by Labcorp offers this product with an FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). This means that this product has not been FDA cleared or approved, but has been authorized for emergency use by FDA under an EUA. This product has only been authorized by FDA for detection of nucleic acid from SARS-CoV-2 (i.e., the COVID-19 virus), and not for any other virus or pathogen. The emergency use of this product is only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circ*mstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use of in vitro diagnostics for detection and/or diagnosis of COVID-19 under Section 564(b)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the declaration is terminated or authorization is revoked sooner.: This PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test is the same test used by physicians across the U.S. Results typically are available within 1-2 days and can be accessed via the Pixel by Labcorp website. The test is available now at CVS.com and in select stores in AL, MA, RI and CT.

The OTC testing options are not covered by insurance and are not meant to test the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccination. CVS Health has been increasing access to testing options since the start of the pandemic and has completed more than 15 million COVID-19 tests to date across more than 4,800 testing sites at select CVS Pharmacy locations, with nearly 1,000 of those locations providing rapid-result testing. With the addition of OTC testing options that can be conducted from the comfort of home, CVS Pharmacy continues to serve as a leader in COVID-19 testing, which remains a critical component of the nation's pandemic response. More information about testing services is available at CVS.com.

About CVS Pharmacy

CVS Pharmacy, the retail division of CVS Health, is America's leading retail pharmacy with nearly 10,000 locations, including over 1,700 pharmacies inside of Target and Schnucks grocery stores. We are committed to delivering innovative health solutions that create a simpler, more accessible experience for patients, customers and caregivers. CVS Pharmacy is the only national pharmacy to remove tobacco products from its shelves and has taken a leadership role in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic by making testing and vaccinations available at locations across the United States. For the latest product and service offerings, visit www.cvs.com or download the CVS Pharmacy app.

Media contact

Matt Blanchette
401-524-6185
Matthew.Blanchette@CVSHealth.com

Over-the-counter COVID-19 testing now available at CVS Pharmacy (2024)

FAQs

Which is the best at-home COVID test? ›

Why We Recommend It. During testing, we found the iHealth Antigen Rapid Test to be the best combination of ease and affordability for the average user, which is why it takes our top spot. For under $20, you get two tests that are easy to use and read, with testing results in just 15 minutes.

How accurate are at-home COVID tests? ›

After clinician tests were collected, patients then performed and interpreted their own rapid test. The sensitivity of clinician and self-collected rapid testing was very good and relatively similar at 88.2% (clinician) vs. 83.9% (patient); notably, sensitivity was much lower in asymptomatic cases (63% [clinician] vs.

Do at home COVID tests detect new variants? ›

Home Tests Detect the New COVID Variant, But May Take Longer.

Can you use expired COVID tests? ›

A: All at-home OTC COVID-19 diagnostic tests are labeled with an expiration date printed on the outer box or package. Generally, tests should not be used beyond this expiration date.

Which type of Covid test is most accurate? ›

PCR tests are more reliable and accurate due to testing the specific genetic material of the virus, eliminating the interference from other viruses,” said Heather Seyko, a Laboratory Services manager for OSF HealthCare.

How long do you stay positive for COVID? ›

Some tests, especially PCR tests, may continue to show a positive result for up to 90 days. Reinfections can occur within 90 days, which can make it hard to know if a positive test indicates a new infection. Consider consulting a healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns about your circ*mstances.

Can you have COVID without a fever? ›

Many people who are infected have more mild symptoms like a scratchy throat, stuffy or runny nose, occasional mild cough, fatigue, and no fever. Some people have no symptoms at all, but they can still spread the disease.” Fever seems to be one of the more common early markers of COVID-19, Kline noted.

What are the new symptoms of Covid-19? ›

Symptoms of COVID-19

a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours. a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste. shortness of breath. feeling tired or exhausted.

What are the latest COVID symptoms in 2024? ›

The latest on symptoms and long Covid

These include sore throat, runny nose, coughing, head and body aches, fever, congestion, fatigue and in severe cases, shortness of breath.

What variant of COVID is going around now? ›

Currently, the dominant variant nationwide is KP.2, with 24.9% of cases, followed by JN.1, with 22% of cases, and JN.1.7, with 13.7% of cases.

Can you test negative for COVID and still have it? ›

A negative result from a COVID-19 rapid test is usually enough to ease worries, but one test isn't enough to rule it out. One negative result could mean that you don't have a contagious amount of the virus at the time of testing, even if you do have COVID-19 already, Adalja said.

What is the over the counter medicine for COVID-19? ›

Most people with COVID-19 have mild illness and can recover at home. You can treat symptoms with over-the-counter medicines, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, to help feel better.

How long do COVID symptoms last in 2024? ›

Long COVID and multisystem inflammatory syndrome

Long COVID is broadly defined as signs, symptoms, or conditions that continue or develop after acute COVID-19 infection. Symptoms or conditions can be persistent, stop and then reemerge, or begin after the acute infection resolves, and can last weeks, months, or years.

How long before COVID symptoms appear are you contagious? ›

The COVID-19 infectious period can vary, but most people are considered infectious from 48 hours before their symptoms start and can be infectious for up to 10 days.

Are BinaxNow COVID tests accurate? ›

A single-center study conducted at a free community testing site in Maryland suggests that patient-administered BinaxNow COVID-19 rapid antigen tests (RATs) have similar accuracy as those performed by a clinician, although the results can be misinterpreted or falsely negative.

Are rapid tests reliable? ›

A Cochrane review [13] of rapid antigen tests published in 2022, based on the pre-omicron era, found an average sensitivity of 54.7 % for people testing without symptoms, 49.6 % for people who are not known contacts. The specificity was on average 99.5 % for all rapid tests.

How accurate are rapid COVID tests? ›

“We found the results between the self- and clinician-administered rapid tests were statistically similar in sensitivity — 83.9% to 88.2%, respectively — and specificity — 99.8% to 99.6%, respectively,” says study senior author Zishan Siddiqui, M.D., assistant professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University ...

How accurate is the Flowflex COVID-19 antigen home test? ›

The Flowflex COVID-19 Antigen Home Test correctly identified 93% of positive specimens and 100% of negative specimens. Q: WHAT IF YOU TEST POSITIVE? A: A positive test result means that antigens from COVID-19 were detected and it is very likely you currently have COVID-19 disease.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Jonah Leffler

Last Updated:

Views: 5675

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (65 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Jonah Leffler

Birthday: 1997-10-27

Address: 8987 Kieth Ports, Luettgenland, CT 54657-9808

Phone: +2611128251586

Job: Mining Supervisor

Hobby: Worldbuilding, Electronics, Amateur radio, Skiing, Cycling, Jogging, Taxidermy

Introduction: My name is Jonah Leffler, I am a determined, faithful, outstanding, inexpensive, cheerful, determined, smiling person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.