Federal Trade Commission

01/19/2022 | News release | Distributed by Public on 01/20/2022 00:21

It’s official: Get free COVID test kits at COVIDtests.gov

Share this page

January 19, 2022
by
Colleen Tressler
Division of Consumer and Business Education, FTC

There's a new federal resource to get free FDA-authorized coronavirus test kits. At COVIDtests.gov, you'll find information about testing and a link to the U.S. Postal Service - special.usps.com/testkits - where you can order up to four rapid tests to be sent to your home address. Your kits will be mailed through the U.S. Postal Service within 7 to 12 days.

The tests are completely free. There are no shipping costs, and you don't have to give a credit card or bank account number. You only need to give a name and address. You also can order for other people who may not have online access. Once you place an order, you'll get an order confirmation number. If you give your email address, you'll also get an order confirmation email and delivery updates. Anyone who asks for more information than that is a scammer. So, remember:

  • Go toCOVIDtests.gov to order your free COVID test kits from the federal government. If you click to order, you'll be redirected to special.usps.com/testkits. Or, if you follow a link from a news story, double-check the URL that shows in your browser's address bar.
  • No one will call, text, or email you from the federal government to ask for your information to "help" you order free kits. Only a scammer will contact you, asking for information like your credit card, bank account, or Social Security number. Do not respond. Instead, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Right now, there's no phone number to call to order your tests. That might change soon, and we'll update you as soon as it's live. Until then, the only way to order is online.

Please share this information with others and stay connected to stay informed. Subscribe to consumer alerts from the FTC to get updates delivered right to your email inbox.

If you spot a scammer offering COVID test kits, tell the FTC about it right away at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Or, file a complaint with your state or territory attorney general at consumerresources.org, the consumer website of the National Association of Attorneys General. Your reports can make a difference by helping us investigate, bring law enforcement cases, and alert people about what frauds to be on the lookout for so they can protect themselves, their friends, and family.

Blog Topics:
Health & Fitness
  • Add new comment

Comments

evergreen3| January 19, 2022
|
  • reply

In order to travel overseas, a PCR test is required. Is it possible to get those test kits, instead of the antigen test?

Leave a Comment

Read Our Privacy Act Statement

It is your choice whether to submit a comment. If you do, you must create a user name, or we will not post your comment. The Federal Trade Commission Act authorizes this information collection for purposes of managing online comments. Comments and user names are part of the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) public records system, and user names also are part of the FTC's computer user records system. We may routinely use these records as described in the FTC's Privacy Act system notices. For more information on how the FTC handles information that we collect, please read our privacy policy.

Comment Policy

This is a moderated blog; we review all comments before they are posted. We expect participants to treat each other and the bloggers with respect. We will not post comments that do not comply with our commenting policy. We may edit comments to remove links to commercial websites or personal information before posting them.

We won't post:

  • spam or off-topic comments
  • comments that contain vulgar language, personal attacks, or offensive terms that target specific groups
  • sales pitches or promotions
  • comments that contain clearly misleading or false information
  • comments that contain personal information, like home addresses

Comments submitted to this blog become part of the public domain. To protect your privacy and the privacy of others, please do not include personal information. Also, do not use this blog to report fraud; instead, file a complaint.