The federal government just lately shut down this system that might mail 4 free COVID assessments to anybody who requested them, however a lesser-known program for neighborhood teams continues to be operating. You probably have a plan to distribute assessments free of charge, you’ll be able to request them by the a whole bunch.
Particular person COVID assessments are now not out there by mail free of charge
Simply to carry everybody on top of things: The authorities program that despatched free COVID assessments by way of covidtests.gov just isn’t at the moment taking orders. A message on that web page states that “Assessments ordered earlier than 8:00 PM EDT, Sunday, March 9, 2025, will likely be shipped.” That is this system that might ship a bundle of 4 assessments, per family, per spherical of this system. There have been a number of rounds, the final one starting in September 2024.
There’s no indication of whether or not this system could resume at some later date. Some information articles had said or speculated that the federal government’s stockpile of COVID assessments was going to be destroyed, however to this point there was no affirmation that any usable assessments are being destroyed.
In case you, personally, want a free take a look at, you’ll be able to strive these locators to search out locations that present government-funded COVID assessments:
Whereas this system for people has shut down, a lesser-known one for neighborhood teams continues to be going robust. There isn’t an official authorities web site that explains this system or gives an order type, however mutual assist teams have been passing round a spreadsheet and directions for requesting assessments from a authorities e mail handle.
For instance, this Instagram submit from Clear Air KC consists of a number of feedback from teams who positioned profitable orders and are sharing details about the manufacturers, expiration dates, and even the dimensions of the bins they arrive in. Reportedly, the minimal order is 300 assessments. Clear Air KC has efficiently positioned orders of three,000 assessments, and an individual from that group additionally confirmed me a thank-you word from somebody who used their details about this system to put an order of, and obtain, 360 assessments.
The best way to request free COVID assessments in bulk
Formally, the way in which to get details about this program is by emailing [email protected]. I didn’t get a response after I reached out to that handle, however I did hear again from the media contact for the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, which maintains COVID take a look at stockpiles. They confirmed at this time (March 14, 2025) that this system continues to be operating, and that any neighborhood group with a plan to distribute the assessments free of charge “can request a one-time or recurring cargo of 400 over-the-counter assessments free of charge distribution.”
It is unclear if 400 is a brand new minimal, or only a advisable quantity. My contact at Clear Air KC mentioned that they positioned an order for 3,000 this week, after the USPS particular person take a look at program shut down, and acquired affirmation that the requested assessments are on the way in which.
To order assessments, ship an e mail to [email protected] with the next info:
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The variety of assessments you’re requesting
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The handle to ship them to
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Contact info for the individual receiving the assessments
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The title or goal of your group
Meals banks, libraries, religion based mostly organizations and others can request assessments, however so can casual teams as long as they intend to distribute the assessments free of charge. You can’t resell assessments acquired by way of this program.
Teams have been utilizing this spreadsheet as an order type, though it’s not clear if the spreadsheet is strictly obligatory. Older net pages from nursing house organizations (like this one) describe the same program that required requesters to be long run care services with CLIA certification or a CLIA waiver, however this seems to be now not obligatory. ASPR confirmed to me that “any group” that agrees to distribute the assessments free of charge can organize them.
