Who should be tested?
- People who have symptoms of COVID-19
- People who have had close contact (within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes) with someone with confirmed COVID-19
- People who have been asked or referred to get testing by their healthcare provider, local or state health department
Not everyone needs to be tested. If you do get tested, you should self-quarantine/isolate at home pending test results and follow the advice of your health care provider or a public health professional.
Get free at-home COVID-19 tests
Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests. The tests are completely free. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days.
Order your tests now so you have them when you need them. Learn more here.
At-home tests are also available for people who are blind or have low vision.
The tests work with a Bluetooth-enabled smartphone/tablet app to provide users with audible instructions and audible test results. Click here to learn more about how to get the tests, what’s needed to use the tests, and who should order these tests.
Ohio now offers free virtual assistance for Ohioans who are blind or have low vision who want to take an over-the-counter test from the comfort of their homes.
Ohio has partnered with Be My Eyes – a recognized leader in using video call technology to make the world more accessible for people who are blind or have a low level of vision – to offer this service using a smartphone app.
Ohioans who need it can now use a video call to administer any over-the-counter COVID-19 test authorized by the FDA, through four simple steps:
- Obtain any over-the-counter COVID-19 test.
- Download the Be My Eyes app on your Apple or Android smartphone and select “State of Ohio COVID Testing.”
- Walk through the testing process with a trained assistant.
- Use your results to keep yourself and your loved ones safe
To learn more about Be My Eyes virtual assistance click here.
To read Be My Eyes press release about this technology and partnership with the state of Ohio click here.
Check your At-Home Test Kit expiration date!
The shelf-life is how long the test should work as expected and is measured from the date the test was manufactured. The expiration date is set at the end of the shelf-life. In some cases, the expiration date for a test may be extended.
To see if the expiration date for your at-home OTC COVID-19 test has been extended, use the expiration date lookup tool found here.
Where to be tested:
If you need a COVID-19 test now, please see other testing resources above for free testing locations.
Click here for a link to the Ohio Department of Health testing resources page.