Walgreens to sell Labcorp’s COVID-19 collection kit over the counter
Walgreens and Labcorp have come to an agreement that will see Walgreens selling the Pixel by Labcorp COVID-19 PCR Test Home Collection Kits over the counter in as many as 6,000 stores. The availability will begin in the spring and mark Walgreens’ first OTC COVID-19 testing offering.
The kit allows customers to self-administer the collection of a sample for testing using a short nasal swab. They then send the sample to Labcorp via prepaid FedEx Express Overnight shipping. The processed results are available on the Labcorp website. Anyone who tests positive will be contacted by a Labcorp-verified staff member to discuss next steps.
“Increasing access to COVID-19 testing continues to be a priority for Walgreens. Working with Labcorp, we can now offer testing solutions at a majority of Walgreens locations nationwide,” said John Standley, president of Walgreens. “This is another example of the power of innovative collaboration to drive greater access to care and products, and we look forward to continuing to work with Labcorp to provide health products and services to our communities.”
The effort comes as Walgreens works to bring on-site COVID-19 testing to 5,000 Walgreens pharmacy locations by April 1. Additionally, the OTC availability of the Pixel by Laccorp kit follows the kit’s availability via Walgreens Find Care, the retailer’s digital health platform offered on its website and mobile app.
Walgreens Find Care also added another COVID-19 test sample collection option to the platform. Clinical Reference Lab’s FDA-authorized CRL Rapid Response COVID-19 Saliva Test now is available on Walgreens Find Care. The test, sold under the company’s HealthConfirm brand, offers a self-collection option. Via Walgreens Find Care, individuals can go to CRL’s website to order the test if they meet one or more clinical guidelines for testing, as assessed by an online questionnaire. Similar to the Labcorp kit, patients collect a sample and send it to a lab via prepaid FedEx Priority Overnight shipping. Each test costs $119.
“Increasing access to COVID-19 testing is a priority for Walgreens and CRL’s at-home test provides a convenient way to offer testing and care when and how patients need it,” said Giovanni Monti, senior vice president of healthcare services at Walgreens Boots Alliance. “This adds to the growing list of healthcare and COVID offerings available through Walgreens Find Care to help our communities access care when and how they need it.”
Besides the testing resources, Walgreens Find Care also offers access to more than 45 trusted providers who can treat more than 120 conditions.