Residential households in the U.S. can order one set of four free at-home tests from USPS.com. Here’s what you need to know about your order:

  • Order your tests from https://special.usps.com/testkits
  • Limit one order per residential address
  • One order includes four individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests
  • Orders will ship free starting in late January
  • Orders usually ship in 7-12 days

THE TESTS AVAILABLE FOR ORDER:

  • Are rapid antigen at-home tests, not PCR
  • Can be taken anywhere
  • Give results within 30 minutes (no lab drop-off required)
  • Work whether or not you have COVID-19 symptoms
  • Work whether or not you are up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines

TAKE AN AT-HOME TEST:

  • If you begin having COVID-19 symptoms like fever, sore throat, runny nose, or loss of taste or smell, or
  • At least 5 days after you come into close contact with someone with COVID-19, or
  • When you’re going to gather with a group of people, especially those who are at risk of severe disease or may not be up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines.

SELF-TEST KEY POINTS

  • COVID-19 self-tests (also referred to as home tests or over-the-counter (OTC) tests) are one of many risk-reduction measures, along with vaccination, masking, and physical distancing, that protect you and others by reducing the chances of spreading SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
  • Self-tests can be taken at home or anywhere, are easy to use, and produce rapid results.
  • You can use self-tests, regardless of vaccination status, or whether or not you have symptoms.
  • Follow all of the manufacturer’s instructions for performing the test.
  • If you test positive, you should isolate and inform your healthcare provider, as well as any close contacts.
  • Consider using a self-test before joining indoor gatherings with others who are not in your household.
  • A positive self-test result means that the test detected the virus, and you are very likely to have an infection and should stay home or isolate for 10 days, wear a mask if you could have contact with others, and avoid indoor gatherings to reduce the risk of spreading disease to someone else.
  • A negative self-test result means that the test did not detect the virus and you may not have an infection, but it does not rule out infection. Repeating the test within a few days, with at least 24 hours between tests, will increase the confidence that you are not infected