• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year

2

Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster

3

Elon Musk on MacKenzie Scott giving away $26 billion of her fortune: 'Sadly,' it makes the world a worse place

1

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year

2

Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster

3

Elon Musk on MacKenzie Scott giving away $26 billion of her fortune: 'Sadly,' it makes the world a worse place
HealthCoronavirus

Where to order free COVID tests from the U.S. government—and why you should think twice before throwing away expired ones

By
Erin Prater
Erin Prater
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Erin Prater
Erin Prater
Down Arrow Button Icon
September 25, 2023, 1:59 PM ET
If your medicine cabinet is bereft of COVID tests, now is the time to stock up: The U.S. government is again mailing out free kits, ahead of an anticipated fall and winter surge.
If your medicine cabinet is bereft of COVID tests, now is the time to stock up: The U.S. government is again mailing out free kits, ahead of an anticipated fall and winter surge.Joseph Prezioso—AFP/Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

If your medicine cabinet is bereft of COVID tests, now is the time to stock up: The U.S. government is again mailing out free kits, ahead of an anticipated fall and winter surge.

Each U.S. household is eligible to receive four free tests as of Sept. 25, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Orders can be placed at COVID.gov/tests.

HHS announced last week it would invest $600 million in 12 domestic COVID test manufacturers—Access Bio in New Jersey; Advin, CorDx, iHealth, Quidel, and Kwell Laboratories in California; Azure in Texas; InBios in Washington; Maxim Bio in Maryland; OraSure Technologies in Pennsylvania; Princeton BioMeditech in New Jersey; and Sekisui in Delaware—ahead of the program’s relaunch.

The move reduces reliance on overseas manufacturing and will “help mitigate the spread of the virus,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in the release. 

The wave of free tests is being released ahead of holiday travel and gatherings, according to COVID.gov. Already, domestic COVID infections are hovering near levels of the pandemic’s first peak in 2020, and approaching the Delta peak of late 2021, according to wastewater surveillance and modeling by forecasters. 

While infection rates are dropping slightly, according to wastewater data from federal contractor Biobot Analytics, they’ll likely surge again “later this fall into winter,” Jay Weiland, a leading COVID modeler, tells Fortune—perhaps repeatedly, with lulls in between.

CDC updated data added to the model.

Seems to be riding the top of the range at the moment, but I believe it will trend towards the midpoint in the next couple of weeks. https://t.co/MLnQqi9J3U pic.twitter.com/nezJvOEg4N

— JWeiland (@JPWeiland) September 21, 2023

For those looking to get their hands on a set of free tests this fall, here are some commonly asked questions and answers.

Where can I order free COVID tests in the U.S.?

Simply visit COVID.gov/tests to place your order.

What information do I need to order?

Just your name and mailing address. PO boxes are okay if they’ve been registered as residential.

You don’t need your ID, credit card, or health insurance information. 

Note that all U.S. residential addresses are eligible, including those in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, U.S. territories, and at overseas military and diplomatic addresses like APO, FPO, and DPO.

What if I can’t order online?

If you don’t have internet access or are having issues placing your order, you can call 1-880-232-0233 (1-888-720-7489 TTY) and receive help in English, Spanish, or more than 150 additional languages from 8 a.m.–midnight ET, seven days a week.

People with disabilities can get help placing their orders by calling 1-888-677-1199, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.–8 p.m. ET. Or they can email DIAL@usaginganddisability.org.

Those who are blind or low-vision can receive 12 at-home tests approved for the visually impaired, while supplies last. The tests require a compatible Bluetooth-enabled smartphone and an app that can be downloaded from the App Store for iOS or Google Play for Android. Orders can be placed here and will ship the week of Oct. 2.

How quickly will the tests be sent?

Tests will be mailed via the United States Postal Service’s priority mail, which typically takes one to three business days to arrive. If you provide an email address when you place your order, you’ll get an estimated delivery date and tracking number for use on USPS.com.

What if my tests are expired?

If you’re looking to do a bit of autumn purging, think twice before chucking expired tests, COVID.gov advises. Many manufacturers have extended expiration dates, including Abbott, iHealth Labs, and Pfizer. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration offers a full list of manufacturers that have extended their expiration dates, and to when, by test name.

Do COVID tests still work on currently circulating variants?

Yes, according to the HHS. At-home COVID tests “work as well as they always have”—even on new variants like “Pirola” BA.2.86, “Eris” EG.5.1, and “Fornax” FL.1.5.1, Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease specialist and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, recently told Fortune. 

If you have COVID symptoms and have tested negative, you may have another respiratory virus. Or you may have tested too early or performed the test wrong.

At-home COVID tests not working is a common complaint these days, Raj Rajnarayanan—assistant dean of research and associate professor at the New York Institute of Technology campus in Jonesboro, Ark., and a top COVID variant tracker—recently told Fortune.

In such cases, the problem is usually that the sick individual tested too early. At the end of an infection and especially at the beginning, viral loads are not always large enough to turn a test positive.

Most people with symptoms who test negative initially “test positive after a day or two,” Rajnarayanan said.

Here are some additional tips for testing, from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

  • If you have COVID symptoms, test immediately.
  • If you test negative using an at-home test, repeat the test again in 48 hours.
  • If you were exposed to COVID, test at least five full days after exposure.
  • If you test negative using an at-home test, repeat the test again in 48 hours.
  • If you still test negative, wait 48 more hours and test for a final time.
  • In both cases, if you’d rather not wait, you can obtain a PCR, or polymerase chain reaction, test at a doctor’s office. These are more sensitive and tend to be more accurate.
The Fortune 500 Innovation Forum will convene Fortune 500 executives, U.S. policy officials, top founders, and thought leaders to help define what’s next for the American economy, Nov. 16-17 in Detroit. Apply here.
About the Author
By Erin Prater
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Health

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Health

kean
PoliticsCongress
Tom Kean discloses depression diagnosis behind 4-month absence from Congress: ‘until you experience it yourself, it is difficult to fully understand’
By Mike Catalini, Joey Cappelletti and The Associated PressJune 30, 2026
21 hours ago
‘Cop on your wrist’: Wearables offer tons of data, but people are still going to sleep to Netflix and TikTok
HealthBrainstorm Tech
‘Cop on your wrist’: Wearables offer tons of data, but people are still going to sleep to Netflix and TikTok
By Amanda GerutJune 29, 2026
2 days ago
usa
EnvironmentHeat
Long and dangerous heat wave to roast America from Dallas to New York through July 4th holiday
By Marc Levy and The Associated PressJune 29, 2026
2 days ago
France suffers 1,000 additional deaths in just the past week amid record heat wave—and 85% involved people aged 65 and above
EuropeWeather and forecasting
France suffers 1,000 additional deaths in just the past week amid record heat wave—and 85% involved people aged 65 and above
By Kirsten Grieshaber, John Leicester and The Associated PressJune 28, 2026
3 days ago
Peter Rahal speaks on stage in front of a black and purple background.
RetailFood and drink
David Protein CEO says ‘diet trends are over’ because of GLP-1s: ‘What’s next is really hard to predict’
By Sasha RogelbergJune 28, 2026
3 days ago
What 3 million Americans quitting Obamacare shows: Republicans couldn’t repeal it, so they made it unaffordable
HealthHealth Insurance
What 3 million Americans quitting Obamacare shows: Republicans couldn’t repeal it, so they made it unaffordable
By Ali Swenson and The Associated PressJune 27, 2026
4 days ago

Most Popular

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
Success
MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
By Sydney LakeJune 25, 2026
6 days ago
Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster
Success
Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster
By Preston ForeJune 27, 2026
4 days ago
Elon Musk on MacKenzie Scott giving away $26 billion of her fortune: 'Sadly,' it makes the world a worse place
Success
Elon Musk on MacKenzie Scott giving away $26 billion of her fortune: 'Sadly,' it makes the world a worse place
By Sydney LakeJune 29, 2026
2 days ago
'Humanity has chosen to become idiots': This Brown professor switched to take-home exams after a mass shooting and discovered mass cheating
AI
'Humanity has chosen to become idiots': This Brown professor switched to take-home exams after a mass shooting and discovered mass cheating
By Catherina GioinoJune 29, 2026
2 days ago
The U.S. Army is opening military bases to private billions — here's why that changes everything for the next 250 years
Commentary
The U.S. Army is opening military bases to private billions — here's why that changes everything for the next 250 years
By Marc AndersenJune 30, 2026
1 day ago
The retired college professor fighting a $313 trespassing ticket in Wisconsin thinks he's part of a national struggle
Environment
The retired college professor fighting a $313 trespassing ticket in Wisconsin thinks he's part of a national struggle
By Catherina GioinoJune 28, 2026
3 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.