How to Get At Home Covid Test Kits Delivered to Your Door

How easy is it to get a kit for self administered Covid tests? All it takes is a few clicks -- albeit with a bit of waiting.

As Beijing slowly reopens and epidemic control policies continue to change, one idea that’s been thrown around by officials is to encourage people to take antigen “rapid” tests at home if they’re feeling ill, can’t get out, or as a quick alternative to a PCR test (results only take 15 minutes).

While antigen tests are nothing new -- they popped up earlier this year as a means for people to test themselves in lockdown or other situations -- it’s since become a little easier to get them.

If you want to order a test kit online, simply go to Taobao, JD, Meituan, or Eleme and search 新冠抗原检测试剂 xīnguān kàngyuán jiǎncè shìjì (Covid-19 Antigen Test Reagent). Keep in mind that delivery times can be a bit tricky.

When searching on Meituan we were able to find one shop offering same day delivery. When placing an order, the shop canceled it and then disappeared from search results. However, after a few minutes the shop reappeared when searching again and we placed an order no issue.

Upon trying the same method a day later, though, it showed on their test page that antigen test kits wouldn't be available for at least nine hours.

You can ask for antigen test kits at your nearest pharmacy, but most people we’ve spoken to have said the pharmacies they’ve visited are waiting for more stock due to high demand.

Oasis International Hospital in northeast Chaoyang District allows either 48 hour PCR results or antigen test results, which can be taken outside their offices for a small fee. You can read more on that, plus find a thorough guide for how to administer an antigen test on your own, via this link.

That being said, it appears for the time being that regular PCR test results are still required for entry at most venues, whereas antigen tests are just good for those wanting rapid results.

READ: How to Use Delivery Apps Meituan and Eleme

Images: Unsplash, The Beijingers