COVID-19 Rapid At-Home Tests Special Instructions Clean cardboard or paper packaging and instructions can be recycled. All other parts of the kit belong in the garbage and should be bagged first. Dispose of Tests Carefully When Sick If you or a household member has an infectious illness, use extra care when disposing of used tests. Wash your hands before and after performing the test. Place the used test in a sealed bag before tossing in the garbage. Ways to Reduce Take Tests Only When Necessary To minimize waste, tests should be taken only when necessary. Here are the CDC’s recommendations for when to take a COVID-19 test.