One Year Later, Testing Remains Important

BENTONVILLE, Ark.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Walmart’s Julie Barber, Senior Vice President of Health & Wellness Merchandising released the following note Monday:

“One year ago, I was leading the testing rollout for our associates as the pandemic brought us so many unknowns, but our goal was to keep our associates and customers informed, healthy and safe. Now, one year later, we have COVID-19 vaccines available and nearly 200 million Americans have received at least one shot; we know face coverings help prevent the spread; and we know testing still remains important.

“Testing, whether at community testing sites or providers, is crucial to tell if individuals are infected to help keep our communities safe, allow us to travel and to hug and see loved ones while still following CDC guidance to keep ourselves and others safe. There also are multiple, authorized home test kits available, making testing even more convenient and accessible.

“I am excited that today we are adding the BinaxNOW COVID-19 Antigen Self Test to the assortment we are selling on Walmart.com and in stores now for $19.88 for the kit. This test, which is packaged in a kit with two tests per box, is intended for testing twice over three days via nasal swab with at least 36 hours between tests. The test detects proteins from the virus that causes COVID-19. This kit delivers results in 15 minutes.

“Today, Walmart continues to play a vital role in helping reopen the country and end the pandemic. We are administering COVID-19 vaccines in more than 5,100 locations in 51 jurisdictions, and we are supporting more than 500 testing sites across the country that have tested hundreds of thousands of people. From the day we were first asked, and it was apparent testing was a key element in the fight to combat the pandemic, our goal was to help provide increased access to testing in our communities. We continue to find innovative ways to do just that, and this is just one more way we continue to play a role in the health of our communities.”

The BinaxNOW™ COVID-19 Antigen Self Test has not been FDA cleared or approved. It has been authorized by the FDA under an emergency use authorization. It has been authorized only for the detection of proteins from SARS-CoV-2, not for any other viruses or pathogens, and is only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use of in vitro diagnostics for detection and/or diagnosis of COVID-19 under Section 564(b)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. §360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the declaration is terminated or authorization is revoked sooner.