Yes, there is an at-home flu test available in the United States. The FDA granted marketing authorization to the Healgen Rapid Check COVID-19/Flu A&B Antigen Test, making it the first over-the-counter test that can detect influenza through the traditional approval pathway. It works similarly to the at-home COVID tests most people are already familiar with: a nasal swab, a test card, and results in about 15 minutes.
What the Test Detects
The Healgen test is a combination test, meaning it checks for three things at once: influenza A, influenza B, and COVID-19. This is useful because these infections share many of the same symptoms (fever, body aches, cough, fatigue), and knowing which virus you have can change how you treat it. You collect one nasal swab sample and the test card displays separate result lines for each virus.
The test is cleared for anyone 14 and older to self-administer. Children as young as 2 can be tested if an adult collects the sample and runs the test for them.
How Accurate It Is
In the FDA’s clinical review, the Healgen test correctly identified 92.5% of positive influenza A samples and 90.5% of positive influenza B samples. It was even better at ruling out the flu, correctly identifying 99.9% of negative samples. For COVID-19, it caught 92% of positive cases and 99% of negatives.
Those numbers are strong for an at-home antigen test, but they come with an important caveat. Antigen tests in general are less sensitive than molecular (PCR) tests, which are the gold standard performed in labs and clinics. One earlier study of at-home flu rapid tests found sensitivity as low as 28 to 32% when compared against PCR, meaning those older tests missed roughly two out of three actual flu cases. The Healgen test’s clinical data shows significantly better performance, but the underlying technology still has limits. A negative result does not guarantee you’re flu-free, especially during peak flu season when the virus is circulating widely.
When to Take the Test
Timing matters more than most people realize. Your body sheds the most virus in the first few days of illness, which is also when an antigen test has the best chance of picking it up. The CDC recommends collecting samples as close to symptom onset as possible, ideally within three to four days of your first symptoms. Test too early (before symptoms appear) or too late (five or more days in), and you’re more likely to get a false negative.
If you wake up with a sudden fever, chills, and body aches, that’s the right moment to test. Waiting a day or two while symptoms develop is reasonable, but don’t wait a week.
How to Collect the Sample
The Healgen test uses a shallow nasal swab, not the deep nasopharyngeal swab you may remember from early COVID testing. You insert the swab less than an inch into your nostril, rotate it several times against the inner wall, then repeat in the other nostril with the same swab. The key mistakes people make are not swabbing long enough, not rotating the swab firmly against the nasal wall, or not swabbing both nostrils. A rushed or timid swab collects less material, which increases the chance of a false negative.
What a Positive Result Means for Treatment
A positive flu result is more than just information. Prescription antiviral medications work best when started within two days of symptom onset. After that window, they’re less effective at shortening the illness or preventing complications. This is the main practical reason to test early: if you’re positive and you’re in a higher-risk group (older adults, pregnant women, people with asthma or heart disease, young children), getting a prescription quickly can make a meaningful difference in how sick you get.
Contact your doctor or use a telehealth service as soon as you get a positive result. Many providers will prescribe antivirals based on a positive home test without requiring an in-office visit, especially during flu season.
What to Do With a Negative Result
A negative result on a rapid antigen test does not rule out the flu. During periods of high flu activity, the chances of a false negative are real. Antigen tests have lower sensitivity than PCR tests, and the CDC explicitly states that negative antigen results should not be used to exclude a flu diagnosis.
If your test is negative but you have classic flu symptoms, especially a sudden high fever with severe body aches, consider retesting in 24 hours or contacting your doctor for a molecular (PCR) test. PCR tests can detect viral genetic material for longer after symptom onset and are far more accurate. This is particularly important if you’re in a high-risk group, since missing the treatment window because of a false negative has real consequences.
Cost and Availability
At-home flu tests are sold over the counter at pharmacies and online retailers. Pricing varies, but expect to pay in the range of $15 to $30 per kit, similar to what at-home COVID tests cost. Private insurance is not required to cover these tests the way it was temporarily required to cover COVID tests during the public health emergency. Some plans may reimburse you, so it’s worth checking your specific policy. Health savings accounts (HSAs) and flexible spending accounts (FSAs) can typically be used to purchase FDA-authorized diagnostic tests.
How It Compares to a Doctor’s Office Test
Clinics and hospitals use two main types of flu tests. Rapid antigen tests work the same way as the home version: they detect viral proteins and return results in under 30 minutes. Molecular tests (including PCR) detect the virus’s genetic material and are significantly more accurate, though results from lab-based molecular tests can take hours or even days. Some clinics have rapid molecular tests that return results in under 30 minutes with near-PCR accuracy, but these aren’t available for home use.
The at-home test gives you a convenient first screening tool. If your result is positive, you can act on it immediately. If it’s negative but you still feel terrible, a clinic-based molecular test is the logical next step.