NEWSCENTER 5'S JESSICA BROWN TAKES A CLOSER LOOK AT THE OPTIONS. JESSICA: EASY, FAST, RESULTS IN 15 MINUTES. A COVID-19 SF-TEELST, PUHADRC FOR $23.99NS IIDE A CVS IN WAYLAND. TWTEO ST CARDS. TWO NASAL SWABS. TWO RE-AGENT BOTTLES. AT'STH ALL IT NOW TAKES TO FIND OUT WHETHER YOU OR A LOVED ONE HAS THE VIRUS. >> IT WON'T KNOW THE SECOND THAT YOU ACQUIRE THE INFECTION, BUT THEY'RE VERY EFFECTIVE AT PICKING UP ON INFECTION AMONG PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE ANY SYMPTOMS. JEICSSA: DR. DAVID MCMANUS IS THE CHAIR OF MEDICINATE U-MASS MEDICAL SCHOOL IN WORCESTER. RESEARCHERS HERE ARE STUDYGIN THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE AT-HOME TESTS, AND THE BEST WAY FOR PEOPLE TO USE TM. >> NOTHING'S 100%. AND NO TEST IS PERFECT. TBU I WILL SAY THAT THEY'RE VYER ACCURATE THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE TIME. JESSICA: S FOAR, THE FDA SHA AUTHORIZED 421 DIFFERENT TYPES OF COVID TESTS. ONLY 12 ARE AVAILABLE FOR USE AT HOME. THREE ARE PCR TESTS, WHICH DETECT GENETIC MATERIAL FROM THE VIRUS. THE REST ARE ANTIGEN TESTS THAT LOOK FOR AN UNIQUE PROTEIN. >> THERE'S NOT A MAJOR DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO. IN ESSENCE WHAT THEY HAVE TO BEAT IS REALLY WELL OVER 90% OF THE TIME BEING ACCURATE FOR THE PRESENCE OF AN INFECTION. AND IF YOU DON'T HAVANE INFECTION, DOING A GOOD JOB OF NOT GIVING YOU A FALSE-POSITIVE RESULT. SSJEICA: INSTEAD, DR. MCMANUS SAYS, THE BIGGER DIFFERENCE IS PRICE, AND AVAILABILITY. >> WHEN I GO TO CVS, I SEE, WHAT'S ON THE SHELF? I TAKE WHAT'S AVAILABLE MTO JESSICA: ON THIS DAY, THE ONLY BRAND WE FOUND FOR SALE WAS ABBOTT'S BINAX-NOW ANTIGEN SELF-TEST. IN A CLINICAL STY,UD THIS PARTICULAR PRODUCT CORRECTLY IDENTIFIED MORE THAN 91% OF POSITIVE SAMPLES, AND 100% OF NEGATIVES. THESERE A THE SWABS HERE. D ANTHE DIRECTIONS ARE CLEAR, SWAB THE INSIDE OF BOTH NOSTRILS, THEN INSERT THE TIP IN THE CARD. YOU GET RESULTS IN 15 MINUTES. SIMILAR TO A PREGNANCY TEST, IF TWO LINES APPEAR, YOU'RE POSITIVE FOR COVID. JUST ONE LINE, YOU'RE NEGATIVE. AND ALL TESTS WORK THE SAME FOR EVERYONE IN YOUR FAMY.IL >> IF IT'S FDA CLEARED, IT'S HAD TO MEET CERTAIN PERFORMANCE CRITERIA ACROSS ALL AGE GROUPS AND BOTH SEXES. SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY THAT THERE'S A BETTER ONE FOR MEORN WOMEN. YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT A BETTER ONE FOR KIDS OR OLDER ADULTS. JESSICA: IF YOU'RE VISITING FAMILY NEXT WEEK, .DR MCMANUS SUGGESTS TAKING ONE COVID TEST ABOUT THREE DAYS IN ADVANCE. AND THEN ANOTHER TEST ON THE MORNING YOU LEAVE. IF BOTH OF THOSE ARE NEGATIVE, YOU SHOULD FEEL