Locations:
Search IconSearch

Got Flu-Like Symptoms? A New At-Home COVID-19 and Flu Test Can Help

This at-home test for COVID-19 and flu can help you figure out what’s causing your symptoms, and how best to treat them

Hand holding nasal swab, pushing it into at-home COVID/flu test vial on counter in bathroom

Your body aches. Your nose drips. It hurts to swallow. And that tickle in your throat is causing a cough that won’t quit.

Advertisement

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy

You know these signs can indicate more than an average cold. But do you have COVID-19, the flu or something else?

“Even medical experts don’t rely on symptoms to discriminate between causes of viral illnesses like COVID-19 and the flu,” says microbiologist and pathologist Daniel Rhoads, MD. That’s because COVID-19 and the flu cause similar, overlapping symptoms. Plus, other respiratory viruses can also cause flu-like symptoms.

So, what are you to do when you’re feeling sick and you’re not sure what’s behind your illness? Now, a newly authorized, over-the-counter (OTC) combination test for COVID-19 and flu is making it easier to figure out what ails you — all from the comfort of home.

What is the at-home COVID-19 and flu test?

In February 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency use authorization for the first (and so far, only) combination OTC test kit that checks for the distinct viruses that cause COVID-19 and flu. The rapid Lucira® by Pfizer COVID-19 & Flu Home Test provides results in 30 minutes.

How does it work?

The Lucira by Pfizer test works differently from the home tests you may have been using. “Until now, at-home COVID-19 tests were antigen tests,” says Dr. Rhoads. “These tests look for specific antigens, or proteins, that coat the coronavirus.”

Advertisement

Lucira by Pfizer is a molecular test. It checks for ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules unique to the:

How accurate is the at-home COVID-19 and flu test?

It’s accurate but not perfect. According to the FDA, a clinical study showed the Lucira by Pfizer test:

  • Detected SARS-CoV-2 in 88.3% of individuals with symptomatic COVID-19.
  • Detected influenza A in 90% of individuals with symptomatic influenza.
  • Very rarely produced false-positive results, which means a positive result from the testing is very likely to be accurate.

How to take the test

From a user perspective, the combination COVID-19 and flu test works like other at-home COVID-19 tests. You swab both nasal passages with a provided nasal swab and swish the swab around in a vial.

But there are some differences. The combo test has a battery-operated device that spins the sample, separating and identifying the virus molecules.

Even if you feel like you’re an ace COVID-19 test taker, it’s important to read through each step of the instructions that come with the Lucira by Pfizer test kit before you start. “Directions can vary by test, and manufacturers often make updates,” clarifies Dr. Rhoads.

Currently, the Lucira by Pfizer test requires three steps:

  1. Swab: Roll the nasal swab five times inside each nostril.
  2. Stir: Fully insert the nasal swab into the provided vial and stir it around 15 times. Remove and discard the nasal swab. Close the lid on the vial.
  3. Detect: Press the vial into the test device until you hear a click. The device’s ready light will blink while the test runs. After 30 minutes, lights on the device will show if you’re negative or positive for influenza A or B or COVID-19.

People 14 and older can perform the test themselves. Adults should test children between 2 and 13 years old.

When should you use the combination at-home COVID-19 and flu test?

Test for COVID-19 and the flu as soon as you have symptoms, advises Dr. Rhoads. “Symptoms indicate your body has recognized an infection is underway and you could be actively shedding the virus — and that would be contagious.”

Where can I get it?

You can buy the combination at-home COVID-19 and flu test at your local drugstore or online. The Lucira by Pfizer test typically costs between $40 and $50. You may be able to purchase the test with funds from a Health Savings Account (HSA). You can also contact your health insurer to see if they’ll reimburse you.

What should I do if I test positive for COVID-19 or the flu?

It depends on how sick you feel and if you have conditions like asthma or heart disease that put you at risk for serious illness or hospitalization. “Antiviral medications for COVID-19 and influenza antiviral medications can lessen symptom severity, lowering your risk for hospitalization,” says Dr. Rhoads.

Antivirals work best when taken within 48 hours of symptoms starting. This is another good reason to use the combination test: You’ll know which virus you have, so you can get the right medicine.

If you’re low risk for complications and have mild-to-moderate symptoms, these steps can protect others from exposure and relieve your symptoms:

Advertisement

Is there an at-home combination COVID-19-flu-RSV test?

Sort of, but it’s a bit more involved and doesn’t give you immediate results. Pixel from Labcorp is the only FDA-approved self-collected test for COVID-19, flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). These three respiratory viruses cause similar symptoms. But there are differences, including who’s most at risk and how providers treat them.

The 3-in-1 test isn’t available in pharmacies. You need to order the kit online (but you don’t need a prescription). When the kit arrives, follow the instructions to do the test. You then mail the nasal swab sample back to the laboratory for testing and get results in a couple days. The $129 test is approved for ages 2 and older.

Lower your risk of COVID-19 and flu

With flu season approaching and COVID-19 peaking around the same time, at-home tests make it easier to pinpoint the cause of your symptoms in real time. The bonus: Increasing your awareness about your symptoms and what’s causing them likely will reduce your chances of exposing others to the same infections.

Still, it’s best not to need the test at all. “The flu vaccine, COVID-19 vaccine and RSV vaccine remain the best ways to protect yourself from severe illnesses caused by these viruses,” confirms Dr. Rhoads. And clinical trial findings suggest that a combination COVID-19-flu vaccine that’s in development may be more effective than separate vaccinations. This vaccine may be available in 2025.

Advertisement

Learn more about our editorial process.

Related Articles

Person sitting on chair with laptop wearing a face mask, thinking about others who are touching their faces
October 8, 2024/Mental Health
Hands Off! How To Stop Touching Your Face

Face-touching is a common habit, but one that can be overcome, like by learning to recognize when you’re doing it and keeping your hands distracted

Person wearing a mask with a germ symbol on their sweater, walking their dog outside
October 7, 2024/Exercise & Fitness
Is It OK To Exercise With COVID-19?

You can work out with mild COVID-19, but not in a gym, and listen to your body and don’t overdo it

Person sitting on bed wrapped in a blanket, holding tissues to their nose, with tea and meds by bedside
How Long Are You Contagious With the Flu?

You may be spreading the flu virus before your symptoms start and up to a week after

Oversized germs and a giant eye with red in the sclera
August 26, 2024/Eye Care
COVID-19 and Pink Eye Are Possibly Connected

Studies have shown an increase in ophthalmic complications as a symptom of COVID-19

Older woman in bathrobe, holding coffee cup, looking window into the neighborhood
August 13, 2024/Infectious Disease
What Are the COVID-19 Guidelines These Days?

Most people can return to work and regular life when they’re symptom-free for 24 hours

Hand spraying disinfectant cleaner and another hand using disinfectant wipe among germs
August 8, 2024/Infectious Disease
Do Lysol Disinfecting Wipes Kill COVID-19?

Lysol Disinfecting Wipes are just one of more than 500 products approved by the EPA for protection against the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19

Tube of ivermectin paste lying on straw
June 20, 2024/Infectious Disease
Why You Shouldn’t Take Ivermectin for COVID-19

The medication is ineffective and — in the case of animal ivermectin — potentially dangerous

Healthcare provider placing bandaid on upper arm after a shot
June 5, 2024/Infectious Disease
Are You Up to Date on Your COVID-19 Vaccines?

Updated vaccinations are recommended to better protect against the evolving virus

Trending Topics

Female and friend jogging outside
How To Increase Your Metabolism for Weight Loss

Focus on your body’s metabolic set point by eating healthy foods, making exercise a part of your routine and reducing stress

stovetop with stainless steel cookware and glassware
5 Ways Forever Chemicals (PFAS) May Affect Your Health

PFAS chemicals may make life easier — but they aren’t always so easy on the human body

jar of rice water and brush, with rice scattered around table
Could Rice Water Be the Secret To Healthier Hair?

While there’s little risk in trying this hair care treatment, there isn’t much science to back up the claims

Ad