Results in 15 minutes: What to know about the at-home COVID-19 test approved for travel
While it has generally been getting easier to obtain a COVID-19 test for travel purposes, turnaround times can still vary depending on where you’re located.
But on your next drugstore store run, you can pick up allergy medicine, eggs, paper towels -- and now, a COVID-19 test. Earlier this month, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expanded the testing program for international travel to the United States, allowing airlines to accept at-home instant tests that include remote supervision.
TPG recently reviewed Abbott’s BinaxNOW COVID-19 Home Test, which is now CDC-approved for travel to the U.S. And United Airlines announced that this particular test is compatible with the airline’s “Travel-Ready Center,” making it easy to link your results with your reservation. Each test comes with two tests per box, and the company says to swab yourself twice within three days, with at least 36 hours between. A second Abbott rapid test also offers quick results but can’t be used for travel.
To find out more about how Abbott’s rapid COVID-19 test works, TPG spoke with Dr. Mary Rodgers, the principal scientist at Abbott and an infectious disease research and diagnostics, through video chat.
This interview has been edited for clarity.
What is the Abbott rapid COVID-19 test?
Dr. Mary Rodgers: [The test] is a very simple to use tool that is allowing us to have more confidence as we come back to a new sense of normal in travel, especially in everyday life.
It's something that you can pick up at a store and do in the comfort of your home for yourself or even for your children. This is approved for use as young as 2 years old with adults.
Who will benefit most from Abbott’s at-home COVID-19 test?
Dr. Rodgers: This test is specifically going to work well for people who want to know if someone is contagious. It detects people who are at that level of their infection, where they could spread it to other people -- that's where it has the most utility.
And so that can really be a number of scenarios, [like] someone who's going to get on an airplane to someone who's going to visit at a family gathering and not everyone's vaccinated. Even just wondering if someone has allergies or [COVID-19] -- sometimes it's hard to tell. So, having one of these in a medicine cabinet certainly allows you to answer that question whenever it does come up.
Does this test work if you’re fully vaccinated?
Dr. Rodgers: So far, any COVID-19 infection would present the same on a test, regardless of whether someone's vaccinated.
If you have the virus at a level that could be contagious to other people, you would come up as positive on this test. There's still ongoing work to understand how common that may be when people are vaccinated, especially with different versions of vaccines. All of those different scenarios are still kind of being evaluated in real-time to determine how likely someone would get COVID-19 and be contagious. But the test works whether someone's been vaccinated or not.
Is this a good test for travelers?
Dr. Rodgers: It's the most affordable and the fastest turnaround, [and] the simplest test to do. The fact that it's widely available also makes it particularly useful for people who are traveling because you could pick it up anywhere in the U.S., regardless of whether you're coming or going from a particular area because [chains nationwide] carry the test.
Where can you buy a test, and how much does it cost?
Dr. Rodgers: Walmart, CVS and Walgreens, and it’s available over the counter. It's [a] self-reported [test] so [it’s not being] added into the system.
The home test, which was [in] the United announcement, is where someone's walking [you through the test], and you're getting digital verified results. And someone watched you take the test and [digitally sends the test results.] That's the proctored digital verified results, which is $25 per test because you're getting all of those things as part of it. And the over-the-counter [non-proctored test] is $23.99.
Even with vaccines, why is rapid testing still necessary?
Dr. Rodgers: Rapid testing is still important, even with vaccines, because until the whole world is vaccinated, we're going to continue to be at risk and need to know whether someone has been infected.
As long as that need is there, we'll need to have rapid tests available to have as much testing as possible. The testing needs have evolved, and advocates [are] trying to fill those needs to have as many options available as possible. Because the more people that can get tested, the closer we can get to reducing cases and hopefully seeing a new phase where we're getting into recovery [as positive cases decrease].
How accurate is the test?
Dr. Rodgers: For people who are within seven days of when they start to feel sick or when they got infected, there's over 95% accuracy of detecting an infection. And that's people who are most contagious because they have a level of virus that's high enough to easily be detected by an antigen test.
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Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
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- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
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- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.