NC Rolls Out Home COVID-19 Testing Kit Program For Those In Need

NORTH CAROLINA — Getting a COVID-19 test is about to get a bit easier for North Carolinians with COVID-19 symptoms or who have been exposed but are also experiencing barriers to access testing resources.

State public health officials are partnering with Labcorp to provide 35,000 free home COVID-19 test collection kits to residents, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said Friday.

Those eligible to receive the free testing kit include residents who receive Food and Nutrition Services, those who are disabled, and anyone who is experiencing a barrier to getting tested, DHHS said.

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How To Request A Kit
Eligible North Carolina residents may submit a request here for a PCR Test Home Collection Kit, which will be shipped to them overnight.

"The test kit includes test supplies (nasal swab, sample container, etc.), detailed instructions and prepaid specimen return shipping materials to make mailing samples back to Labcorp for testing easy and convenient," DHHS said.

Test results are typically available within 24 to 48 hours, once the specimen is received by the lab, DHHS said.

"As a North Carolina-based company that is committed to quality healthcare for all, we are delighted to collaborate on this important initiative," Brian Caveney, M.D., chief medical officer and president, Labcorp Diagnostics, said in a statement. "We believe this program will help protect some of our most vulnerable citizens and promote health and safety in our communities."

More information about the free home COVID-19 test collection kit program in North Carolina may be found here.

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