SCOTT OLSON / GETTY IMAGES

In Spanish

Health officials are increasingly emphasizing the importance of rapid home testing as a way to help slow the spread of COVID-19, especially as the highly contagious omicron variant has pushed the number of new cases to high numbers. record.

First appearing in pharmacies in the spring of 2021, these over-the-counter tests require a quick swab of the nose and provide results in about 15 minutes. And soon their price could drop from about $20 a box to zero, as the federal government plans to distribute some by mail and require private insurance companies to reimburse the cost of kits purchased from people in their health plans.

Honestly everyone should learn how to skate. Not only does it prevent heart disease and reduce your chances of a *h… https://t.co/3LhQIYCJ8v

— To Wed May 15 22:24:47 +0000 2019

How reliable are these tests? And when should you consider taking one? Top experts answer common questions and offer helpful tips for testing for COVID at home.

How do rapid home tests work?

Like many COVID tests administered at doctors' offices and testing centers, an at-home version can determine if you're infected with the coronavirus, via a swab taken from your nose. These tests, called antigen tests, work by looking for the presence of specific proteins associated with the coronavirus. If detected, a positive result appears on a test strip within minutes, much like a home pregnancy test.

"And that's helpful because it allows you to make individualized decisions about how far away you should stay from other people, what medical care to get, and how to stop cycles of transmission with your behavior," Dr. Cameron Wolfe, a specialist in Infectious Diseases at Duke Health and an adjunct professor at Duke University School of Medicine.