Othena

I opened the CareStart COVID-19 test kit and performed the test using my own timer, then I saw the QR code on the box for the Othena app that I hoped might report my results to CDC or someplace useful, so I went back and installed the app and ran it. While creating the required account, it failed to let me choose a password using the characters it told me would be accepted, so I ended up trying simpler and simpler passwords until it finally accepted one. Then it wanted my healthcare plan information, which I was not inclined to provide, and I had to tippytoe around that to get to the part where it actually guides me through taking the test. Remember, I had already taken the test and seen the result, but I just wanted to include it in this app, in case it would report it someplace useful. It required me to sit through several timers, until it finally got to the longer 10 minute timer. I was collecting up trash to take out, so I set the phone down, and when I came back, it had decided the sample was invalid because I had waited too long, and only gave me an option to exit. This isn’t robust software. The “App Support” and “report a problem” links in the App Store are both broken, so I had to provide my feedback in an App Store review… facepalm!

I wanted to take this at home Covid 19 test but I didn’t have my ID on me so they wanted my social security number. Absolutely not!