Covid tests at home they have become an essential first aid kit. But supplying them is not cheap. If you’re running low on supplies, there’s good news: iHealth’s FDA-cleared Rapid Antigen Test for Covid-19 is currently on sale on Amazon for $12 ($6 off). This is the lowest price we’ve ever tracked for this kit, which comes with two tests. Warnings? The deal is exclusive to Amazon and expires at 2:59am ET on July 7th (11:59pm PT on July 6th).
Speaking of which, Amazon’s Prime Day is right around the corner. We’ve rounded up other great early deals right here if you’re looking to save on all sorts of gadgets and gizmos.
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Get reimbursed if you have insurance
While the $6 discount for each test is a great deal, insurance companies (private and group health plans) must cover eight FDA-approved over-the-counter Covid-19 tests per month. If your insurance provider considers an iHealth test ordered through Amazon to be out-of-network, you may still be reimbursed up to $12 per test—which will cover almost the full pre-tax cost of each test.
Why we like the iHealth Rapid Antigen Covid-19 Test
The iHealth Covid-19 test works like any standard home kit. It’s also one of the easier tests to use than the many we’ve tested in our guide to rapid home tests for Covid-19. Inside the box you will get two nasal swabs, two vials of solution and two test cassettes. Taking the test is easy. Take a swab from both nostrils to collect a sample, soak it in the solution, add three drops to the cassette and wait 15 minutes for your results to appear on the card.
If the test is positive, two lines will appear on the cassette – one next to the “C” (control) line and the other next to the “T” (test line). If the result is negative, a single line will appear next to the “C”. Because each pack comes with two tests, if the test is negative, you should retest within 24 to 48 hours, especially if you have recently been exposed to someone who tested positive. Once the test is complete, you’ll be able to upload your results to the companion iHealth app. With negative test results, the app will give you access to an iHealth pass on your device to use as digital proof.
If you are buying bulk Covid test kits, be sure to store them properly – out of direct sunlight and in a dry place where the temperature is between 35 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit. You should also pay attention to expiration dates. iHealth recently extended the shelf life of its test kits to nine months; you can check the new expiration date of each test kit by batch number via the iHealth site. It is also important that you use the included test cassette within one hour of opening the foil pouch.
Note: In May, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning about counterfeit versions of the iHealth Rapid Antigen Covid-19 Test Kit that are not approved for sale in the US. The pictures on the instruction pamphlet attached to some counterfeit versions are slightly different from the authentic version. Both iHealth and the FDA are currently in the process of finding additional telltale signs to look for. The link we shared here with Amazon was provided to us by iHealth and is the FDA approved version.
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