Kroger First Retailer to Offer Rapid Antibody Testing

Kroger Health, the healthcare division of The Kroger Co., is expanding its COVID-19 testing services with rapid antibody testing, making it the first retailer to offer the service, the Cincinnati-based retailer said in a release.

Now available at Kroger pharmacies in California (Ralphs) and Michigan and all Kroger pharmacies and clinics by the end of November, the FDA-authorized tests use a finger-prick blood sample to inform users in as little as 15 minutes if they have previously been infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The tests are supplied by Whitmire Medical and are available for $25 to Kroger customers who believe they may have previously been infected with COVID-19 and are not currently experiencing symptoms.

"Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Kroger Heath has remained committed to helping people live healthier lives by offering in-clinic and at-home COVID-19 testing solutions supported by our multi-disciplinary team of licensed, trained and experienced healthcare providers," said Colleen Lindholz, president of Kroger Health, in a release. "Making rapid antibody testing available across our family of pharmacies will not only provide an affordable and convenient testing solution for individuals who want to understand if they have previously been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, but also help clinicians understand the long-term impacts of COVID-19 and potential public health strategies for fighting the disease."