When and how to order

Soon, Americans will be able to order free COVID-19 test kits from the government and have them delivered to their homes.

The program, offered by the U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS), will offer up to four nasal swab tests per U.S. household once it opens on COVIDTests.gov.

HHS is resuming the program at a time of year when annual increases in COVID-19 cases and other respiratory illnesses are expected. The tests detect current strains of the virus and will be available by the end of the year.

As of Monday, the agency had not announced an exact date when the program would start. The website says the tests can be ordered starting in late September.

Here's what you need to know about free COVID-19 testing.

How to order free COVID-19 tests

To order the tests, visit COVIDtest.gov. Once ordered, home tests will be delivered to your home free of charge.

Each household can receive up to four free tests.

When can free COVID tests be ordered?

An agency spokesperson did not provide a start date for the program to USA TODAY on Monday. The website says the tests will be available to order starting in late September.

What do the tests detect?

According to the CDC, the tests can detect the dominant variants in circulation.

The home tests typically provide results in 30 minutes or less and can be used on both vaccinated and unvaccinated people. Many COVID-19 tests now have a longer expiration date.