Walgreens expands COVID-19 services with free at-home test kits
Walgreens is collaborating with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and a life sciences company to increase access to COVID-19 tests.
The drugstore giant, HHS and life sciences firm Labcorp are making Pixel by Labcorp COVID-19 at-home collection kits available nationwide. The PCR tests are available at no cost to consumers who meet clinical guidelines for requiring a COVID-19 test.
Consumers can visit walgreens.com/covid19testing to request a Labcorp COVID-19 at-home kit at no cost for clinically qualifying individuals 2 years of age and older. Individuals scheduling a testing appointment using the Walgreens online scheduler will see a pop-up with the option to request a COVID-19 at-home collection kit.
Consumers will then be directed to the Labcorp OnDemand healthcare platform. Once on the platform, customers will be prompted to answer eligibility questions and request a kit.
Completed tests can be dropped off at more than 6,000 Walgreens locations, or a FedEx drop-off location using the pre-paid FedEx shipping bag provided. Results are provided on average within one to two days after the specimen is received at the lab and can be accessed through the Labcorp OnDemand portal. Labcorp has received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for its COVID-19 test.
In addition to the new program, Walgreens offers a number of other pandemic-related services. These include the recently launched Walgreens COVID-19 Index. Data captured in the Walgreens COVID-19 Index can track the spread of the Omicron variant within 24 to 48 hours. In addition to a national view, data can be reviewed by state. The Walgreens COVID-19 Index is based on proprietary data from PCR testing services administered by Walgreens and performed by its testing partner Aegis Sciences.
Walgreens provided 13.5 million COVID-19 vaccinations in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021, and 34.6 million for the entire fiscal year. The company also plans to launch Walgreens Health, a new business segment it described as a “technology-enabled care model powered by a nationally scaled, locally delivered healthcare platform,” and has partnered with Uber to provide free rides to Walgreens stores and offsite vaccine clinics for members of underserved communities to receive COVID-19 vaccinations since February 2021.
“Walgreens is focused on reducing barriers to health care, including cost and transportation,” said John Standley, president, Walgreens. “Through our continued partnership with Labcorp and HHS, communities will have better access to convenient COVID-19 PCR testing. This is particularly important for uninsured, socially vulnerable and medically underserved populations, who continue to be among those most impacted by COVID.”
“Expanding our offerings with Walgreens to provide Labcorp COVID-19 at-home collection kits to Walgreens customers makes testing within reach for more individuals across the country, including those communities that might otherwise have a harder time accessing health care,” said Brian Caveney, MD, chief medical officer and president, Labcorp Diagnostics. “As we begin seeing regions across the country loosen COVID-19 restrictions, testing will continue to play an important role as people increase pre-pandemic routine activities.”
Based in Deerfield, Ill., Walgreens operates nearly 9,000 retail locations across America, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.