PSA: Free Government Covid test site now live

[snappy]

Not received. Neighbors are still out scouring the drug stores for tests. I am happy for those of you who have received your tests.

 

[Southernmiss]

I ordered very early the first day that we could order.

Received an email to expect them 2/9 last Monday or Tuesday.

They arrived in our mailbox yesterday with an email to tell me they were delivered.

 

[Imzadi]

Ours were sitting on the porch when we got home in the afternoon yesterday. Hopefully it didn't sit out too long as the temps were only in the teens and we were gone for about 4 hours.

What did the package look like? Was it stupidly labeled with big words like, "Here is you free Covid-19 test kit?" My apartment building has a little mail room. Since Covid, we no longer have the person who used to man it and keep the packages organized and SAFE. Now, different people are allowed back there at different times.

I'm kind of concerned that if it's clearly obvious what the package is, someone might just swipe it (or a few packages as they were free.) They may think, it's not like we paid for these. And with so many people saying they haven't gotten their yet, plus the address problems we had, these might get "lost in the mail."

 

[AnnaS]

Ordered first day - have not received and don't know anyone personally who has.

No N95 Masks either at drug store.

 

[Kitty 34]

What did the package look like? Was it stupidly labeled with big words like, "Here is you free Covid-19 test kit?" My apartment building has a little mail room. Since Covid, we no longer have the person who used to man it and keep the packages organized and SAFE. Now, different people are allowed back there at different times.

I'm kind of concerned that if it's clearly obvious what the package is, someone might just swipe it (or a few packages as they were free.) They may think, it's not like we paid for these. And with so many people saying they haven't gotten their yet. Plus the address problems we had, these might have "gotten lost in the mail."

It was in a plain white package with UPS on it. My DH thought at first it was a book he had ordered from Amazon. We're pretty sure our mailman had delivered it and had set it on our porch as it would have been difficult to put it in our mailbox. Our mail guy usually comes around 11 which means it sat outside until almost 3 when we got home. It says right on the actually test box to keep the test between 59 and 86 F so not sure if we should use them.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

I ordered the first day and got an email that it was coming in two packages and when to expect them. First package arrived on the expected date, second package was supposed to arrive two days later. Never got it. I suspect theft, either right off my step or someone at the post office taking them to sell.

 

[Imzadi]

No N95 Masks either at drug store.

I picked up a set of three yesterday. I read only the major pharmacies will have them: CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid.

I also read that supposedly all people the masks are for must be present to pick them up. But, when I got there, the pharmacist said, "You are allowed 3 masks per person per household. How many do you want?" So listen carefully to what the pharmacist asks as to how many one may get.

 

[Imzadi]

It was in a plain white package with UPS on it. My DH thought at first it was a book he had ordered from Amazon. We're pretty sure our mailman had delivered it and had set it on our porch as it would have been difficult to put it in our mailbox. Our mail guy usually comes around 11 which means it sat outside until almost 3 when we got home. It says right on the actually test box to keep the test between 59 and 86 F so not sure if we should use them.

Thanks for the description.

As to the temps the tests have to be kept at, now I have to email my sister to be on watch for them arriving. Their mail box is near their garage and they don't pick up their mail every day.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Not received. Neighbors are still out scouring the drug stores for tests. I am happy for those of you who have received your tests.

I haven't gotten mine, either...and I ordered the 1st day.

 

[AnnaS]

I picked up a set of three yesterday. I read only the major pharmacies will have them: CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid.

I also read that supposedly all people the masks are for must be present to pick them up. But, when I got there, the pharmacist said, "You are allowed 3 masks per person per household. How many do you want?" So listen carefully to what the pharmacist asks as to how many one may get.

We will try again Monday or Tuesday - picking up more prescriptions at CVS (for many many years). Thank you.

 

[JimMIA]

@mom2rtk started this thread actually the day BEFORE ordering was supposed to start, and we ordered ours then. We have received nothing.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

@mom2rtk started this thread actually the day BEFORE ordering was supposed to start, and we ordered ours then. We have received nothing.

I think most of us (actually the majority of this thread IIRC) are talking about ordering on January 18th anyways, the first day you could order. Some people who ordered that day have received theirs others have not, thus the inquiry into who ordered on the first day (first day meaning January 18th) and still haven't received theirs.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

It was in a plain white package with UPS on it. My DH thought at first it was a book he had ordered from Amazon. We're pretty sure our mailman had delivered it and had set it on our porch as it would have been difficult to put it in our mailbox. Our mail guy usually comes around 11 which means it sat outside until almost 3 when we got home. It says right on the actually test box to keep the test between 59 and 86 F so not sure if we should use them.

That's crazy the temps the box says. How could that work to anyone who lives in winter conditions??

It was already precarious with something like BinaxNow that is 35.6-86 degrees.

 

[Kitty 34]

That's crazy the temps the box says. How could that work to anyone who lives in winter conditions??

It was already precarious with something like BinaxNow that is 35.6-86 degrees.

Good question. That's why after sitting outside for over 3 hours, I probably won't use them. Heck when I go get my lung inhalers from my Drug Store I never would think to leave even them outside for very long (in the car) in our kind of temps right now.

 

[Christine]

Good question. That's why after sitting outside for over 3 hours, I probably won't use them. Heck when I go get my lung inhalers from my Drug Store I never would think to leave even them outside for very long (in the car) in our kind of temps right now.

I would think you could give them a try. They aren't medication. If the test line works, then the test is very likely to be functioning. If the test line does not show up, the test was probably damaged.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I would think you could give them a try. They aren't medication. If the test line works, then the test is very likely to be functioning. If the test line does not show up, the test was probably damaged.

It's considered less accurate because of the reagent but in the PP's case if the lower allowance temp is 59 degrees and in was less than 20 degrees (they said it was teens) and it sat out for 3-4 hours I personally speaking wouldn't feel comfortable trusting the results because of the large gap in allowable lower temperature. If that lower temperature was 35.6 (like BinaxNow) and it was in the teens for the same amount of time it would be considered less accurate but I might feel more comfortable.

This info is from a USA Today article but the formation has been talked about for a while since the at-home covid tests exploded in usage

What does it mean if your at-home tests comes in the mail and it's cold?
Dr. Geoffrey Baird, Chair, chair of laboratory medicine and pathology at the University of Washington's School of Medicine, said the issue with the at-home tests is that if the liquid inside the cartridge is frozen, the results can be skewed. If the test is outside for a few hours, odds are the test is fine, although not as accurate as it once was. If your test is in your mailbox for a day or more, Baird advises using a PCR test instead. Baird said if your test spent a night in your mailbox in 25-degree weather, it may be best to order another test.
if a test is stored outside the recommended temperature "for a relatively short period of time," it will be fine to use after being placed back in room temperature, the spokesperson said. If the test lines on your at-home test appear in the incorrect order or color, Baird said that's an indicator it's been contaminated by the weather. "When you freeze and thaw something, the solutions in it may not actually get back into solution as it once was before. That's where the inaccuracy in these at-home tests can come from," Baird said.

The problem is that article mentioned BinaxNow which has a much lower temperature allowance than the test the PP mentioned on the box.

So it may still work as in functioning but the results not necessarily accurate. That's why I can't believe the Federal Government is sending out tests with a lower allowance of 59 degrees in the wintertime. It means many of these tests may experience issues with accuracy especially because people are getting them when they aren't expecting them (like an early delivery or in the case of the OP of this thread a late into the day delivery without realizing it)

 

[Imzadi]

Good question. That's why after sitting outside for over 3 hours, I probably won't use them. Heck when I go get my lung inhalers from my Drug Store I never would think to leave even them outside for very long (in the car) in our kind of temps right now.

They've also been sitting in an unheated USPS mail truck/car all morning before being placed on your porch.

This reminds me of when I have to order an all natural thyroid supplement. It can be affected by very high heat. So, not only was I warned to not leave it in a hot car, I have to make sure to have it mailed to me late fall through spring, so it's not sitting in an overheated mail truck even before being delivered.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

@mom2rtk started this thread actually the day BEFORE ordering was supposed to start, and we ordered ours then. We have received nothing.

Yes, that’s the date all of us are talking about. I ordered mine within an hour of the site going live and they haven’t arrived. Haven’t gotten any shipping info from USPS either.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

They've also been sitting in an unheated USPS mail truck/car all morning before being placed on your porch.

I did not even think of that. If ours is delivered with our regular mail packages often show out for delivery at 5-6am but gets delivered around 3-4pm with the normal mail. If I had tracking information I would feel at least better about keeping an eye out for them.

 

[Kitty 34]

I would think you could give them a try. They aren't medication. If the test line works, then the test is very likely to be functioning. If the test line does not show up, the test was probably damaged.

Thank you....I know it's not medicine btw . To be honest, tho I'm knocking on wood I never have to use them if you know what I mean.