Federal Government Buys 104 Million OTC COVID-19 Test Kits from iHealth Lab

The Department of Defense (DoD) in collaboration with the Department and Health and Human Services has agreed to purchase more than 104 million over-the-counter COVID-19 test kits from Mountain View, Calif.-based iHealth Lab.

The new contract is part of the Biden administration’s plan to issue 500 million free at-home COVID-19 tests in response to the increased demand for testing because of the Omicron variant.

The at-home test, which the FDA has authorized for emergency use during the pandemic, delivers results in 15 minutes using nasal swab samples taken just three-quarters of an inch inside the nostrils. While the government will issue the tests for free, the company’s price for a 2-test pack with free shipping is $17.98.