Information from VUMC Laboratory Services about personal COVID tests

Asymptomatic employees and patients who desire testing for COVID-19 for non-medical, non-work related issues, such as personal travel, may wish to explore usage of at-home COVID-19 tests.

 There are two types of at-home COVID-19 tests:

• Self-collect – the patient collects a specimen at home and mails it to a lab for testing. Most of these are molecular (PCR or nucleic acid amplification tests/NAAT) tests. Molecular tests are the most accurate of COVID-19 tests and are preferred. Molecular testing is the modality most often required for travel.
• Self-test – the patient collects and tests a specimen at home using a test kit (usually resembling a home pregnancy test). Most of these are antigen tests. Antigen tests are less accurate and more prone to false results. Thus, if a person has a discordant antigen test (i.e., they are asymptomatic but test positive), they may consider having the test result confirmed by a molecular test.

Whatever test is selected, be sure to only use self-collection or self-testing kits that have emergency use approval (EUA) from the FDA. The list of approved tests can be found here: https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-emergency-use-authorizations-medical-devices/in-vitro-diagnostics-euas-molecular-diagnostic-tests-sars-cov-2#individual-molecular. Carefully read and follow the instructions included with the test kit. Failure to do so may significantly reduce the accuracy of the test.

More information about self-testing can be found on the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/testing/self-testing.html