Where to Buy At-Home Strep Throat Test Kits

Understanding Strep Throat and At-Home Testing

Strep throat, caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria, is a common illness during the cold winter months. Its trademark symptoms include throat pain, fever, swollen tonsils with white patches or streaks of pus, and tender lymph nodes in the neck. While strep throat often resolves on its own, antibiotics may be prescribed to shorten the illness duration, reduce transmission to others, and prevent rare complications like rheumatic fever.

Because strep throat shares many symptoms with viral sore throats, physician examination and laboratory testing is recommended to confirm the diagnosis when strep throat is suspected. Testing often involves a rapid antigen detection test (RADT) that returns results within minutes. If negative but strep throat symptoms persist, a follow up throat culture may be done to check for false negative RADT results.

The Promise of At-Home Testing

Given the time and costs involved with visiting primary care offices for strep throat testing, at-home strep test kits have clear appeal. These FDA-approved tests allow patients to collect a throat swab sample at home and either run the RADT kit themselves or mail it to a laboratory for analysis.

At-home strep tests save time and money associated with in-office visits. They also reduce transmission risks to other ill patients in crowded medical offices. However, their accuracy compared to in-office testing remains controversial.

Accuracy of At-Home Strep Tests

In 2022, MIT researchers evaluated the accuracy of the Abbott BinaxNOW RADT kit for at-home use. They provided the self-administered test kits to 159 patients aged 3 to 49 with sore throat symptoms suggestive of strep throat.

Participants used the BinaxNOW kit to collect a throat swab sample and run the RADT assay at home. They then brought their test kit to a nearby medical center where providers repeated RADT testing on the same participants.

Comparison of the at-home and in-office RADT results showed that testing accuracy was similar overall. However, the at-home method did miss some strep throat cases that were detected upon in-office testing.

Interpreting At-Home Test Results

Based on the MIT study findings, the researchers caution that individuals with ongoing strep throat symptoms after a negative at-home RADT result should follow up with a medical provider for repeat testing. A laboratory throat culture may be needed if strep throat remains highly suspected.

They also note that other factors can decrease at-home testing accuracy. Proper sample collection technique is key for reliable test performance. Additionally, following the kit instructions precisely, including timed incubation steps, impacts results.

Buying GUIDE for At-Home Strep Tests

While weighing their pros and cons, if you decide that an at-home strep test may have a role supporting your or your family’s health this winter, here is what to consider when buying:

Available Kit Options

There are currently two FDA-cleared at-home rapid antigen detection test (RADT) options for strep throat detection:

• Abbott BinaxNOW Strep A Card: This RADT provides results in 15 minutes at home using a dual-swab collection method.
• Lucira CHECK-IT Strep A Test Kit: This molecular RNA amplification test (RAT) delivers results in 30 minutes or less.

Kit Costs and Health Plan Coverage

The list price for these at-home strep test kits ranges from $25 to $50 for a single use. However, they are often available for less online and from major pharmacies like CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart.

Many health insurance plans now cover at-home COVID test kits. At this time though, coverage varies for at-home strep tests unless mandated by specific state regulations. Check with your insurance provider to learn about reimbursement eligibility if you pay out-of-pocket.

Prescriptions

In most cases, anyone can purchase at-home strep test kits without a prescription from pharmacies or online retailers. However, some kits may require a health care provider’s order depending on age (for use in children) or state regulations.

Online Ordering and Delivery

Reputable sites like Amazon, Everlywell, and major pharmacy chains allow online ordering of at-home strep tests with home delivery in 1 to 3 days on average. This is faster than buying in local pharmacies which may require re-orders due to stock shortages during peak illness seasons.

Take care when evaluating new online merchants that market at-home medical tests. Verify their legitimacy and FDA-compliant products to avoid testing kit scams.

Getting Accurate At-Home Strep Test Results

While at-home strep tests offer advantages, their limitations mean in-office testing retains an important role diagnosing some strep throat cases. Follow these tips to get the most from self-administered kits:

• Read and follow all test instructions carefully for accurate results.
• Write down date/time when you use the test and when results are read.
• Note test results as positive or negative based on kit directions.
• Retest if your symptoms persist despite a negative result.
• Consult your provider for next steps if retesting is still negative but strep remains suspected.

At-home strep tests serve as a convenient first step evaluating sore throats. However, clinical judgment still guides diagnosis and treatment decisions if symptoms persist despite negative results. In-office throat cultures, repeat RADTs, or empiric antibiotic therapy may be needed in some cases.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.