Looking for a COVID test? Here are tips to find at-home testing kits and get them for free

It may seem daunting, but it is possible to find testing kits in stores and online with some tools, determination and sometimes luck in the face of ongoing shortages.Some are using the same tactics to find the tests that are being used to score the hard-to-find PS5 and Xbox Series X video game consoles: Following Twitter and social media accounts that blast when the tests are back in-stock.There are also apps and websites that alert consumers when new tests arrive.And there's Eli Coustan, a 14-year-old from the Evanston suburb of Chicago, who has made it his mission to help people find at-home tests.►COVID tests: How to get free at-home COVID-19 tests with insurance reimbursement►COVID quarantine and isolation guide:What to know and what to have at homeThe ninth-grader said he started his website Findacovidtest.org at the end of December after seeing how difficult it was to find the at-home tests."I had created a site to find vaccines earlier in the pandemic and knew that I would be able to use a lot of similar technology to create something to find at-home tests you can order online and get shipped," Eli told USA TODAY, adding he started ILVaccine.org in February 2021 after he saw how hard it was for his grandparents to get appointments.Your mileage may vary but here are tips to help you find at-home COVID tests and other items that are shortage items.For shopping online, alerts or notifications whether from store apps or third-party sites or apps are one of the best ways to find available inventory when it restocks.Target has in-stock alerts that you can sign up for with its app.