When are rapid COVID-19 tests going to be available in the U.S. again?
January 1, 2022 10:40 AM Subscribe
I know this is AskMe, not an ouija board or God, but since many MeFites are more well-read than me I wanted to know if there are estimates out there for dates when rapid tests will be available in stores. Where I live (California) there are no tests anywhere in stores or online and I haven't been able to find date estimates when I read the news.
My mom in her 70s is out of rapid tests and I'm trying to figure out if there is a possibility of ordering her some this coming week. She doesn't have symptoms but she has been exposed. She is signed up for a PCR test this coming week.
My mom in her 70s is out of rapid tests and I'm trying to figure out if there is a possibility of ordering her some this coming week. She doesn't have symptoms but she has been exposed. She is signed up for a PCR test this coming week.
Best answer: Thanks to a link in an AskMe from the past week or so, I just ordered some tests from iHealth Labs. I ordered on the 29th and they shipped the next day.
posted by Lyn Never at 10:47 AM on January 1, 2022 [18 favorites]
posted by Lyn Never at 10:47 AM on January 1, 2022 [18 favorites]
There's a facebook group for my town and I was able to find tests at Walgreens because people posted about availability. That meant we could get together with our dance group for XX95 masked fun and exercise.
posted by theora55 at 11:02 AM on January 1, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by theora55 at 11:02 AM on January 1, 2022 [1 favorite]
Walmart sometimes has them in stock online, but they sell out.
This outfit has some in stock. I've ordered from them before, they are expensive but ship quickly- not sure how long the shipping times are to the west coast, they ship from a NY/NJ warehouse.
posted by BungaDunga at 11:05 AM on January 1, 2022 [2 favorites]
This outfit has some in stock. I've ordered from them before, they are expensive but ship quickly- not sure how long the shipping times are to the west coast, they ship from a NY/NJ warehouse.
posted by BungaDunga at 11:05 AM on January 1, 2022 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Thank you, Lyn Never, I just ordered tests from there. And thank you, blob, I'm no longer in SF proper but I will look for similar local subreddits.
posted by rogerroger at 11:11 AM on January 1, 2022
posted by rogerroger at 11:11 AM on January 1, 2022
+1 to the above suggestions for following people who post about finding them--because it's not like they're out of stock entirely, just that everywhere sells out quickly and it's not predictable when and where you will be able to find any in stock. Walgreens & CVS have both removed stock indicators for specific stores from the product pages because they were so unreliable! But more often than not, if I check 2-3 stores in a neighborhood, I can find some.
Astonishingly, I had luck ordering QuickVue tests online (for shipping, not local delivery or pick-up) from CVS earlier this week and they arrive tomorrow. I've checked back a few more times to tell others, though, and it's definitely hit-or-miss.
You can also order the On/Go tests directly from the manufacturer.
posted by rhiannonstone at 1:12 PM on January 1, 2022 [1 favorite]
Astonishingly, I had luck ordering QuickVue tests online (for shipping, not local delivery or pick-up) from CVS earlier this week and they arrive tomorrow. I've checked back a few more times to tell others, though, and it's definitely hit-or-miss.
You can also order the On/Go tests directly from the manufacturer.
posted by rhiannonstone at 1:12 PM on January 1, 2022 [1 favorite]
Mid-january. That is just based on my intuition. We're just coming off of the Christmas and NY season, which is a time when there have been lots of people off of work and everything in the US slows down. Also at this time there is lots of extra shipping going on which means more work for UPS, FedEx, USPS, etc. Plus everybody wanted to test before going out so all the ones in stores got snapped up.
I just have a feeling that it's going to be easier to get them soon. My gut tells me it's going to still be hard to find them in stores in mid-january but it will be a lot easier to order them online. Let's see how good I am at predicting the future! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we get these tests soon.
posted by selfmedicating at 1:18 PM on January 1, 2022
I just have a feeling that it's going to be easier to get them soon. My gut tells me it's going to still be hard to find them in stores in mid-january but it will be a lot easier to order them online. Let's see how good I am at predicting the future! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we get these tests soon.
posted by selfmedicating at 1:18 PM on January 1, 2022
Another place to look is your local public library branches.
Lots of places in the US are using the libraries as distribution points for self tests, and a quick search suggests that California (or at least some counties) is doing this.
Same problem as stores, they'll get a shipment that will disappear quick on a first come first served basis, but if you're a library member maybe you can sign up for email or text alerts when they get a shipment in.
(Also, I suspect the current scarcity of self tests has a lot to do with lots of people deciding to test for holiday travel, and now that that's mostly over with the tests won't sell out so quickly.)
posted by soundguy99 at 3:24 PM on January 1, 2022
Lots of places in the US are using the libraries as distribution points for self tests, and a quick search suggests that California (or at least some counties) is doing this.
Same problem as stores, they'll get a shipment that will disappear quick on a first come first served basis, but if you're a library member maybe you can sign up for email or text alerts when they get a shipment in.
(Also, I suspect the current scarcity of self tests has a lot to do with lots of people deciding to test for holiday travel, and now that that's mostly over with the tests won't sell out so quickly.)
posted by soundguy99 at 3:24 PM on January 1, 2022
Best answer: You might find this site helpful: it tracks whether various brands across various online stores are in stock. I used it to order a few from Walgreens before they all ran out of stock again.
posted by mellophone at 4:43 PM on January 1, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by mellophone at 4:43 PM on January 1, 2022 [1 favorite]
The Wirecutter did a nice roundup of all the rapid tests available and their efficacy ratings, plus whether you need a smartphone app to use them: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/at-home-covid-test-kits/
Meanwhile, I ordered some from iHealth that are arriving Tuesday and also some from Wyze that are arriving Wednesday.
posted by wisekaren at 4:43 AM on January 2, 2022 [2 favorites]
Meanwhile, I ordered some from iHealth that are arriving Tuesday and also some from Wyze that are arriving Wednesday.
posted by wisekaren at 4:43 AM on January 2, 2022 [2 favorites]
I find them at Walgreens when my local groups post that they’re available. A friend had a scare and ordered online from both Target and Walmart, each with next day delivery. Target came through, Walmart didn’t. But those might be good to keep an eye on. People near me have success with GoPuff delivery too.
posted by OrangeVelour at 9:01 AM on January 2, 2022
posted by OrangeVelour at 9:01 AM on January 2, 2022
There are no tests available on GoPuff in my area, but on the product page there is a "notify me" button.
posted by yohko at 12:59 PM on January 2, 2022
posted by yohko at 12:59 PM on January 2, 2022
Two different Walgreens by me (in upstate NY) had at home tests available for purchase today AND i didnt see that listed on either of the aggregate sites listed above. So maybe Walgreens doesnt share its status with those sites? Either way, it's worth calling your local Walgreens.
posted by silverstatue at 1:14 PM on January 2, 2022
posted by silverstatue at 1:14 PM on January 2, 2022
This thread is closed to new comments.
I've seen discussions that indicate both CVS and Walgreens have tests available regularly but they sell out quickly. Unfortunately, I think there are no places that will have guaranteed stock, for quite a while.
posted by blob at 10:47 AM on January 1, 2022 [3 favorites]