Free at-home COVID-19 test kits are again available by mail as of Monday, November 20. This is the second round of free COVID tests offered by the U.S. government this season, after four tests were offered to each U.S. household in September.
To order your free test kits online, visit COVID.gov/tests. Simply provide your name and address. The free test kits will be shipped beginning Monday, November 27—there is no charge for shipping.
If you did not order any free tests in September, you may place two orders now, for a total of eight tests. The system keeps track of how many kits have been sent to a specific address. If you need any help placing an order for your at-home tests, call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489).
Each order includes four individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests, including extended shelf life and updated expiration dates. While some packaging may show initial “expired” dates on the box, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) extended those dates when the manufacturer provided data showing that the shelf life is longer than was known when the test was first authorized. The complete list of extended expiration dates is available on the FDA extended expiration dates web page.
With holiday gatherings, colder weather, plus the flu and other seasonal ailments circulating, keeping COVID tests on hand is an important tool for staying safe.