LabCorp OnDemand offers at-home testing for COVID-19 and a range of other health concerns.
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This article will take a look at how LabCorp OnDemand’s COVID-19 test works.
Previously called Pixel by LabCorp, LabCorp OnDemand’s COVID-19 Test uses reverse polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing technology to test for the virus that causes COVID-19. These tests are also called molecular or nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT).
PCR tests look for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 particles in samples, identifying bits of its genetic material to confirm the presence of the virus and its subtype or variant. According to data provided by LabCorp, the LabCorp OnDemand tests are 95% accurate at screening for SARS-CoV-2.
Is it accurate?
Yes. PCR testing is highly accurate when it comes to detecting SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. But this accuracy comes with a trade. Results of PCR testing are not immediate and can’t be done completely at home.
PCR testing requires specialized lab equipment that duplicates and magnifies genetic material from your sample to search for virus particles. The test takes a few hours to run. Because of the lab equipment and time needed for this testing method, increased demands on testing can increase how long you’ll wait to get test results depending on your area.
While PCR tests are highly accurate, there’s still also a chance for inaccurate results. Testing is most accurate in people with symptoms of COVID-19, and results can also vary depending on how samples are collected and processed. LabCorp says it will retest any suspicious samples for inaccurate results.
Is a PCR home test the same as a rapid home test?
No. Rapid tests are another option for at-home testing. These tests, also called antigen tests, look for the specific immune response your body mounts against a SARS-CoV-2 infection, rather than actual genetic material from the virus, which is what the PCR test is designed to identify.
If you have symptoms, these tests are fairly accurate, but if you have no symptoms at all when you test, you could end up with a false negative.
At this time, LabCorp OnDemand doesn’t offer a rapid antigen testing kit.
The LabCorp OnDemand home collection kit includes everything you need to collect a sample and send it to the company for analysis.
Each at-home PCR testing kit includes:
- a shipping box
- a pre-labeled FedEx envelope
- a nasal collection swab
- saline tube
- insulated specimen pouch
- a gel pack for sample cooling
- specimen biohazard bag
- user guide and instructions
When you order a kit, you’ll first be asked a few questions about your symptoms or exposure, and how you’ll pay for the test kit. LabCorp can bill the cost of the test kit to your health insurance company, but kits are also provided free of charge through federal funding for people who are uninsured or who meet certain criteria. You can also pay for the test out of pocket.
To receive a test kit at no charge, you must meet the following conditions:
- you have mild symptoms of COVID-19
- you were exposed to someone with COVID-19
- you live or work in a group setting
- you were asked to get tested by a healthcare professional, contact investigator, or public health department official
Once your test kit is ordered, it’ll take about 2 days to arrive at your home. Using the supplies and instructions in the kit, you will collect a sample from the inside of your nose using the supplied swab. Package the sample according to the instructions and attach the provided shipping label.
Results are typically available 1 to 2 days after Labcorp receives your testing kit. You’ll receive your results through a secure online portal, and you’ll have the opportunity to speak with a healthcare professional about your results if needed.
LabCorp also offers an option for in-person testing at its physical laboratory locations. Your ability to use these services, however, depends on where you live and how close you are to a LabCorp facility. LabCorp has 2,000 locations across the country, and the company’s website offers a tool to help you find your nearest location.
In-person testing can reduce errors that may arise from how you collect a sample at home to ship it.
If you’re sick with symptoms of COVID-19 or suspect you have been exposed to the coronavirus and want to be tested, LabCorp suggests ordering an at-home test kit via LabCorp OnDemand.
There are pros and cons to each type of COVID-19 testing. PCR tests are the most accurate tests, but it takes longer to get results. Rapid tests provide quick results, but are most accurate when you have symptoms of COVID-19
Rapid tests aren’t as accurate as PCR testing when it comes to detecting asymptomatic infections or when used for screening purposes.
LabCorp offers three types of COVID-19 PCR test kits for collecting samples at home.
COVID-19 Test
- Price: $0 upfront with insurance or qualifying criteria, $119 for asymptomatic testing for screening purposes
This COVID-19 test is an at-home collection kit for the PCR test. Once the lab receives your sample, they will test for the presence of SARS-CoV-2.
COVID-19 Antibody Test
- Price: $42.13 if not covered by insurance
COVID-19 antibodies will be present in your blood if you have the virus that causes it, or if you have been vaccinated against the virus.
Because it takes a while for the body to generate antibodies, you should wait at least 10 days from being vaccinated or testing positive for the virus to have this test done. And because you’ll have to visit a facility to have your blood sample taken, LabCorp asks that you not order this test if you have symptoms of disease or think you may have been exposed to someone with an active infection.
COVID-19 + RSV + Flu PCR Test
- Price: $0 upfront with insurance or qualifying criteria, $169 for asymptomatic testing for screening purposes
This home collection kit includes PCR test materials capable of detecting SARS-CoV2, RSV, influenza A, or influenza B. The kit is mailed in for lab analysis of your test sample. It uses one swab to test for all three viruses and results are usually available within a day or two of when LabCorp gets your sample.
Small Business COVID-19 Test Collection Kits
- Price: $119 per kit
This is a mail-in collection kit for the PCR test. Once received, the lab will analyze your test sample for the presence of SARS-CoV2, and your results should be available within a day or two.
These kits are designed to be purchased by small businesses to offer to their employees. Kits can be bought in multiples of 6, up to a maximum of 120 tests per package.
COVID-19 PCR Test (Labcorp Visit)
- Price: $119 per test
This PCR test is done at a LabCorp facility and is only intended as a screening test for people who don’t have any active symptoms of COVID-19. Even though the sample is collected right at the lab, it’s best to allow up to 4 days to see your results.
LabCorp OnDemand COVID-19 testing is designed for anyone ages 2 and up who needs to be screened for SARS-CoV-2 and is showing symptoms of COVID-19 or may have been exposed to the coronavirus.
LabCorp’s in-person testing is designed only for screening purposes and not to test people who have symptoms of COVID-19 or suspect they have been exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19.
LabCorp has a solid reputation and has supplied ample data to the FDA about its testing products. The company also offers a number of other at-home testing kits, plus national in-house lab services at more than 2,000 locations across the country.
Consumer reviews are not posted by LabCorp, but retailers who sell the kits feature mostly positive reviews about the ease of use and quickness of results delivered by the company. Negative comments primarily involved lack of availability of the test kits in retail locations.
In addition to at-home and in-person tests for the virus that causes COVID-19, LabCorp OnDemand offers dozens more tests that can help gauge how well your body is performing some of its important functions.
LabCorp OnDemand offers tests for everything from kidney and liver function to blood health and fertility. Most of the tests require a visit to a LabCorp location near you to give samples of blood, urine, or both. Read our overview of the tests you can order through LabCorp OnDemand and a description of each test.
What days is LabCorp open for testing?
Labcorp’s facilities run test samples 7 days a week. Check with LabCorp for specific times and locations in your area if you’re interested in in-person testing.
How soon do I need to collect and mail my sample?
Test kits don’t have to be used right away, but the supplies within the kit are only designed to keep your sample stable for testing for a limited time. Mail your sample as soon as possible after testing — within at least 24 hours of collection. Samples ship overnight to a LabCorp facility.
How do I know if I collected my sample correctly?
LabCorp will contact you if your sample can’t be tested for one reason or another. Arrangements may be able to be made for an in-lab collection sample, or a company representative will advise you on what to do next.
For more answers to FAQs, contact LabCorp or visit their website.
Testing is the best way to make sure whether you have COVID-19. PCR testing offers the most accurate results, but long wait times and lab delays can make these tests cumbersome. LabCorp is one of several companies that offer at-home collection kits for COVID-19 testing as an alternative to physical testing centers.
If you have symptoms or think you might have had contact with someone who has COVID-19, order a test for home collection. LabCorp also offers in-person testing, but the company asks that this be used for screening only and not to help diagnose active SARS-CoV-2 infections.
LabCorp onDemand offers a great deal more than just COVID-19 testing options. You can order dozens of other tests on your own, many of which can help you and your medical care professionals diagnose certain conditions, or even test for fertility, immunity, or allergies.