Top COVID Test Brands: Reliable Choices for Your Health

As the world continues to navigate the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, reliable testing remains a crucial component in managing the spread of the virus. With numerous tests available on the market, identifying the best brands can significantly enhance the accuracy and effectiveness of self-diagnosis. Top brands are recognized for their reliability, ease of use, and rapid results, providing both healthcare professionals and the public with peace of mind. For a detailed guide on the best COVID test brands and their unique features, please explore the information provided below.

Illustration of covid test

Best brands of covid test in 2025

Abbott Laboratories

Abbott Laboratories is renowned for its robust contributions to COVID-19 testing, particularly through its highly sensitive and specific SARS-CoV-2 antibody assays. These tests, such as the SARS-CoV-2 IgG II Quant assay, have demonstrated 99.9% specificity and 100% sensitivity in detecting IgG antibodies 17 days after symptoms began. Despite a decline in COVID-19 testing revenue, Abbott's diagnostics unit has maintained strong performance in other areas, with global Diagnostics sales excluding COVID-19 testing-related sales increasing by 3.3% on an organic basis in the third quarter of 2024. The company's Alinity family of diagnostics systems has also seen continued adoption, contributing to overall growth. Abbott's ability to scale up production quickly has been crucial in supporting global demands during the pandemic.

Roche Diagnostics

Roche Diagnostics is a leading producer of COVID-19 tests, having developed over 20 COVID-19 tests and solutions globally and sold more than 1.8 billion COVID-19 tests worldwide since the beginning of the pandemic. In March 2020, Roche launched the first commercial COVID-19 PCR test for high-throughput laboratory instruments. The company's Pilot COVID-19 At-Home Test, launched in 2022, offers accurate and quick results in as few as 20 minutes, with a relative sensitivity of 93.2% and 100% specificity. This test has been distributed to tens of millions of Americans through the U.S. government's efforts. Roche's commitment to scientific excellence and broad accessibility has made it a pioneer in COVID-19 diagnostics.

Siemens Healthineers

Siemens Healthineers has established itself as a leading producer of COVID-19 tests, particularly with its CLINITEST Rapid COVID-19 Antigen Self-Test, which has demonstrated efficacy against various Omicron variants. In 2022, the company saw a significant surge in demand, leading to an increase in its full-year sales forecast from 0% to 2% to 3% to 5% due to the booming COVID-19 testing business. Siemens Healthineers generated $374 million in sales from these tests in the first quarter of 2022, exceeding its initial full-year forecast of $228 million. The company collaborated with RRD to supply tens of millions of tests to the U.S. market during the Omicron peak. Despite logistical challenges, Siemens Healthineers maintained its commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.

Quidel Corporation

Quidel Corporation is a leading producer of COVID-19 antigen tests, recognized for its QuickVue SARS Antigen Test, which provides accurate and reliable results in just 10 minutes. In 2021, Quidel experienced a significant uptick in demand for its tests, shipping over 45 million SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics, marking a 135% increase from the third quarter of 2020. The company has secured a 12-month contract worth $284 million to supply up to 51.2 million QuickVue antigen tests to the federal government. Quidel is expanding its manufacturing capacity to achieve a run-rate of 70 million rapid antigen tests per month by the end of the year. This rapid scaling is crucial in meeting the high demand for COVID-19 testing, particularly driven by the emergence of variants and government initiatives.

BD

BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) is a leading producer of COVID-19 test kits, notably the BD Veritor™ Plus System, which offers reliable and rapid results at the point of care, with a positive percent agreement of 95% (CI, 67%-93%) and negative percent agreement of 98%-100% in just 15 minutes. BD began shipping these test kits in July 2020 and aimed to produce up to 10 million tests from July through September, with a target of 2 million tests per week by the end of September. The company leveraged its global manufacturing network and partnered with contract packagers like Web Industries to achieve high production volumes, reaching 12 million test kits per month. The BD Veritor™ Plus System has been authorized by the FDA under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. BD's COVID-19 testing sales reached $480 million in the second fiscal quarter of 2021, including $290 million from the BD Veritor™ Plus System.

Thermo Fisher Scientific

Thermo Fisher Scientific has emerged as a leading producer of COVID-19 test kits, manufacturing millions of tests and playing a crucial role in the global fight against the pandemic. In 2021, the company invested heavily in expanding its production capabilities, including a Kansas-based facility, to meet the unprecedented demand for COVID-19 testing solutions. Their TaqPath COVID-19 test kit is now available in nearly 180 countries and has been a key tool in identifying and containing the spread of the virus. Thermo Fisher reported $440 million in COVID testing revenues in the third quarter of 2022, exceeding expectations by over $200 million. The company's efforts have been instrumental in supporting vaccine development, distribution, and the production of essential supplies like hand sanitizer.

Bio-Rad Laboratories

Bio-Rad Laboratories is a leading global provider of life science research and clinical diagnostic products, particularly renowned for its comprehensive range of COVID-19 testing solutions. In 2022, the company reported fourth-quarter net sales of $730.3 million, with COVID-related revenue contributing approximately $13 million, although this was a significant decrease from the $46 million in the year-ago period. Bio-Rad's COVID-19 diagnostic tools, including real-time PCR and droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) systems, have been highly praised for their sensitivity and precision, with the SARS-CoV-2 ddPCR kit receiving Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the FDA. The company's Platelia SARS-CoV-2 Total Ab Assay also stands out for its high sensitivity in detecting anti-nucleocapsid antibodies. Despite a decline in COVID-related sales, Bio-Rad's overall performance reflects its strong position in the diagnostic market.

Cepheid

Cepheid, a subsidiary of Danaher, has emerged as a leading producer of COVID-19 tests, notably with its Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 cartridge, which received Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA in March 2020. This test delivers results in less than an hour and is designed for use on Cepheid's GeneXpert testing platforms, with over 11,000 instruments in low- and middle-income countries. Despite criticism for pricing, Cepheid's tests have been crucial, with respiratory testing sales totaling $300 million in Q2 2023, though down from $750 million the previous year. The company's molecular diagnostics unit saw a 30% increase in sales excluding respiratory testing, driven by expanded test menus. Cepheid's tests are integrated into various global health initiatives, including the WHO's Diagnostics Consortium.

OraSure Technologies

OraSure Technologies is a leading producer of COVID-19 tests, renowned for its innovative and user-friendly diagnostic solutions. The company's InteliSwab® COVID-19 Rapid Test, designed and developed in the U.S.A., has been praised as a "game changer" in the fight against COVID-19 by former Pennsylvania Health Secretary Rachel Levine. Following a significant expansion, OraSure can now manufacture almost 2 million in-home COVID-19 self-tests per week, a production increase of over 500% from previous levels, and has created or retained over 400 jobs in the Lehigh Valley.

PerkinElmer

PerkinElmer is a leading producer of COVID-19 tests, renowned for its highly sensitive and efficient diagnostic solutions. The company's New Coronavirus Nucleic Acid Detection Kit holds the lowest Limit of Detection (LoD) among authorized COVID-19 molecular diagnostic tests, detecting 3-fold less viral material than the next closest competitor and over 90-fold less than the industry average. This kit has received FDA Emergency Use Authorization for sample pooling, enabling laboratories to test more individuals without increasing resources. PerkinElmer also offers a dried blood spot (DBS) based serology test, which can process up to 5,000 samples per day, facilitating decentralized and high-throughput testing. The company's comprehensive SARS-CoV-2 offerings include RT-PCR, high throughput RNA extraction, automation, and other laboratory solutions.