Frequently Asked Questions

MakeMyTestCount is a part of an effort at the National Institutes of Health to develop standard ways to report at-home tests, and to securely and privately collect the data in a way that makes it understandable.

By reporting your test — whether negative or positive — you are part of that effort. When you report your test result, you help improve America’s understanding of how people are using at-home tests. You’re also helping researchers and public health teams figure out how best to use the data those test results give them.

At-home tests are likely to become even more popular in the future. When you report your results, you’re helping build the foundation of a system that is intended to help people across the country live safer, healthier lives. Thank you for doing your part - and for making your test count.

Data collected through MakeMyTestCount is de-identified and sent to HHS Protect, a secure national database that also receives COVID-19 test results from laboratories and doctors’ offices. De-identified data can also be sent to public health teams at the state and local level, if they request it. In addition, the data may be shared with researchers and support teams working on the MakeMyTestCount initiative.

Any data that is shared outside the program will be anonymous and not tied to any information that identifies you individually.

Your privacy is a priority for MakeMyTestCount. We don’t ask for any specific personal information such as your name, date of birth, or street address. Instead, we ask for general information such as age and home ZIP code. If you like, you can also provide information such as race, ethnicity, sex, and whether or not you have any COVID-19 symptoms. That data helps public health workers better understand how COVID-19 is spreading in your community, but it’s not required.

All the information from MakeMyTestCount stays in the United States. It is gathered by CareEvolution, a US health-care technology company that has provided secure health care solutions since 2004.

CareEvolution’s processes and technologies have been verified by third-party assessors (3PAO) who are accredited by the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) to make sure that they meet the strict Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) guidelines. In addition, CareEvolution regularly undergoes third-party audits and testing to ensure it continues to meet FISMA's security and privacy requirements.

MakeMyTestCount makes every reasonable effort to keep your information safe and protect the confidentiality of your data; however, total confidentiality cannot be guaranteed. As with any technology solution, there is always a small risk of unauthorized access or disclosure.

CareEvolution, based in the United States, is a health-care technology company that has provided secure health-care solutions for U.S. consumers since 2004.

CareEvolution's platform supports MakeMyTestCount and other National Institutes of Health initiatives such as Say Yes! COVID Test, the Framingham Heart Study, Risk Underlying Rural Areas Longitudinal (RURAL), and the All of Us program. Some of the country's largest health plans, hospital systems, and community health information exchanges rely on CareEvolution's technologies for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of care delivered in the United States.

For more information, please visit www.careevolution.com.

Respiratory diseases like COVID, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) have similar symptoms. Reporting a negative test may help show that another disease besides COVID is going around your area.

Public health teams use different tools to respond to different situations. For example, if a COVID surge is happening, your community's public health staffers know they need lots of rapid COVID tests. But they don't need that kind of test if your area is facing a lot of flu but not much COVID.

Right now, public health teams are still studying how best to use the data that MakeMyTestCount gathers. The more complete that data is, the more useful it can be - for both COVID surges and for upticks in other respiratory viruses. That's why negative test results are just as important to know about as positive test results are.

You can report any kind of at-home COVID-19 self test at MakeMyTestCount.org. You do NOT need to report your test result here if:

• You are taking a test that is proctored.

• You've reported your test result to your health care provider.

• You've reported your test result in an app that comes with your test.

No matter what your results are, you can join the search for answers to COVID-19 and Long COVID by joining the RECOVER studies. You can participate whether you have COVID now, had COVID before, or never had COVID. Visit the RECOVER website for more information.

Can't find the answer you are looking for? We are here to help.

For more information about COVID-19 and how best to protect yourself and your loved ones from the virus, visit WhenToTest.org.

For more information about the RADx® Tech initiative, visit the NIBIB website.

For anything else, email info@makemytestcount.org