Use of COVIDTests.gov At-Home Test Kits Among Adults in a National Household Probability Sample - United States, 2022.

At-home rapid antigen COVID-19 tests were first authorized by the Food and Drug Administration in late 2020 (1-3). In January 2022, the White House launched COVIDTests.gov, which made all U.S. households eligible to receive free-to-the-user at-home test kits distributed by the U.S. Postal Service (2). By May 2022, more than 70 million test kit packages had been shipped to households across the United States (2); however, how these kits were used, and which groups were using them, has not been reported. Data from a national probability survey of U.S. households (COVIDVu), collected during April-May 2022, were used to evaluate awareness about and use of these test kits (4). Most respondent households (93.8%) were aware of the program, and more than one half (59.9%) had ordered kits. Among persons who received testing for COVID-19 during the preceding 6 months, 38.3% used a COVIDTests.gov kit. Among kit users, 95.5% rated the experience as acceptable, and 23.6% reported being unlikely to have tested without the COVIDTests.gov program. Use of COVIDTests.gov kits was similar among racial and ethnic groups (42.1% non-Hispanic Black or African American [Black]; 41.5% Hispanic or Latino [Hispanic]; 34.8% non-Hispanic White [White]; and 53.7% non-Hispanic other races [other races]). Use of other home COVID-19 tests differed by race and ethnicity (11.8% Black, 44.4% Hispanic, 45.8% White, 43.8% other races). Compared with White persons, Black persons were 72% less likely to use other home test kits (adjusted relative risk [aRR] = 0.28; 95% CI = 0.16-0.50). Provision of tests through this well-publicized program likely improved use of COVID-19 home testing and health equity in the United States, particularly among Black persons. National programs to address availability and accessibility of critical health services in a pandemic response have substantial health value.
Competing Interests: All authors have completed and submitted the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors form for disclosure of potential conflicts of interest. Nicole Luisi reports institutional support from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and National Institutes of Health (NIH). Patrick S. Sullivan reports institutional support from NIH, Gilead Sciences, and Merck; receipt of consulting fees from Merck and Molecular Testing Laboratories; and honoraria from Gilead Sciences. Travis Sanchez reports institutional support from NIH. Heather Bradley reports institutional support from NIH and receipt of consulting fees from Merck. Mansour Fahimi reports support and receipt of consulting fees from Emory University. Kristin N. Nelson reports institutional support from NIAID and NIH. Benjamin A. Lopman reports grant support from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, NIH, and personal fees from Epidemiologic Research and Methods, LLC, and Hillevax, Inc., outside the submitted work. Aaron J. Siegler reports institutional support from NIAID and NIH. No other potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.