NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa. –
Defense Logistics Agency Distribution is working with the Department of Health and Human Services and Defense Department to provide over 8 million over-the-counter, at-home COVID-19 tests nationwide.
The test is the first to receive emergency-use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration and is suitable for ages 2 and up. It provides results in 15 minutes via a smartphone application.
DOD announced the effort in a Feb. 1 statement indicating it coordinated with HHS to award $231.8 million to Ellume USA LLC to increase production of the home tests in support of a White House effort.
“The tests will be distributed across the U.S. in accordance with the National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness policy established Jan. 21,” the statement said.
The tests are being shipped from the manufacturer in Brisbane, Australia, to a U.S.-based freight forwarder in Texas, then on to DLA Distribution Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, where workers are receipting, storing, monitoring and distributing the tests to HHS and DOD customers. Temperature and humidity-level monitoring devices are being used to ensure test validity during shipping.
The first 100,000 tests were delivered to DDSP’s medical storage building April 12 and have been shipped to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta and Oklahoma City Area Indian Health Service in Oklahoma.