COVINGTON, Ky. — Testing for COVID-19 is expanding.

 


What You Need To Know


  • Kroger offers at-home testing kits to workers

  • Northern Kentucky lab with process.

  • Only available for frontline workers

  • Plans to expand to other organizations

 Northern Kentucky lab, Gravity Diagnostics, will soon be providing testing results from home collection kits distributed by Kroger Health.

For the last couple of months, the Covington-based lab has been servicing Kroger Health’s drive-thru testing.

“We had so much success with them through that. We really thought we can make an even bigger impact together, so at-home kit collection is the next big step with Kroger Health for us,” said Tessie Bertrams, director of marketing with Gravity Diagnostics.

Each kit includes a nasal swab, vial, instruction sheet, prepaid shipping label, and packing materials for return shipment of the sample to the laboratory.

“To be able to have this partnership, both Kroger Health and Gravity Diagnostics had to receive Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA to be able to do the Kroger at-home collection kits,” Bertrams said.

The kit will be available to frontline Kroger workers.

Employees or patients can then schedule a telehealth visit with a licensed health professional who will supervise the test.

“We believe that the at-home collection kits are very important because they can reach those people who are not necessarily in areas that have easy access to testing. We can reach it by sending them the kit,” Bertrams said.

The collection kits also add an advantage. It provides a safe option, without leaving your home, to those who could be at a higher risk of being infected with the coronavirus.

The tests are available in Kentucky and several other states with plans for expansion.

The kits launched this month. Kroger Health said they eventually hope to offer home testing to other companies and organizations soon.