Minnesota plans to offer swab-less, at-home and walk-up COVID-19 testing by October

ROCHESTER, Minn. - State officials Tuesday, Aug. 25, announced a plan to offer at-home and walk-up saliva testing for COVID-19 beginning in October.

As part of the deal, which is not yet finalized, the state plans to spend $14.66 million in CARES Act funding to build a testing lab and 10 walk-up sites across the state. The lab is to be operated by RUCDR Infinite Biologics, of Rutgers University, and administered by a mail-order system through the New York-based men's telehealth services company Vault Health.

Infinite Biologics holds the first FDA Emergency Use Authorization for a PCR saliva test to detect COVID-19. Vault Health operates the logistics and telehealth arm of the planned initiative, a Zoom-based test administration, sample retrieval and results delivery service.

https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/newsmd/coronavirus/6630118-Minnesota-plans-to-offer-swab-less-at-home-and-walk-up-COVID-19-testing-by-October