Everything You Need To Know About Walmart's At-Home COVID Test Kit

In an effort to help combat the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, Walmart has just announced that they will be releasing a series of at-home COVID-19 test collection kits. Walmart.com and SamsClub.com will both have at-home test kits available for purchase starting this week.

"Throughout the pandemic, Walmart and Sam's Club have focused on providing options to customers and members so they can shop in the way best for them...Now, we're applying that same lens to how we can provide access to COVID-19 testing to as many people as possible in ways that best align with their needs," Lori Flees, the SVP and COO of Walmart U.S. Health & Wellness, wrote on the company's blog.

According to News Nation, the test kits will run from $99 to $135, depending on the type of kit people choose. Customers can select from a range of options, starting with the basic nasal swab kit and going all the way up saliva tests and combined COVID-19 and flu testing kits. Walmart and Sam's Club will also offer both standard and express delivery.

To obtain the kit, customers must first purchase a code, which will lead them to a short health survey. After completing the survey, a physician will generate an order that will complete the purchase. Walmart or Sam's Club will then ship the test kits to the customer's home, where they can collect their sample and send it back to the lab to be analyzed. Users will receive their results in as little as 24 to 48 hours. If a positive result is detected, customers may also receive a follow-up telehealth call.

It's important to note that these test kits aren't "FDA cleared or approved." CNET explains that FDA approval means the agency concluded that a helpful product that could also be quite harmful has benefits that are greater than the risks. Lower-risk products fall into a different category and receive FDA clearance after a company submits a special application and the FDA finds that a product is sufficiently comparable to an FDA-approved item. However, the test kits are FDA-authorized for their intended use.

Disclaimers aside, increased access to testing is welcome news. "All of this work builds on the COVID-19 testing support we began nine months ago," Flees added, "Currently there are nearly 600 testing locations supported by Walmart and our partners. Through these sites and partnerships, Walmart has helped to facilitate tests for hundreds of thousands of people across the country."