A select number of APCI member pharmacies are among a group of Health Mart pharmacies nationwide that will begin offering COVID-19 testing next week.

A total of 93 Health Mart pharmacies are participating in the testing effort, and 16 of the locations are APCI members. The member pharmacies are serving low-income areas and vulnerable populations located in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.

“APCI is proud that our members are rising to meet the challenge of expanding testing capabilities for COVID-19 in APCI member states and across the country,” said Tim Hamrick, APCI CEO. “Our members have worked diligently to enhance their clinical services and offering testing during the current pandemic is one of the many ways our members serve their communities.”

The Health Mart testing effort is being conducted in partnership with healthcare technology company eTrueNorth. Other national pharmacy chains are also participating in the tests. The effort is a public-private partnership with funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the current testing slate is expected to be phase one of an expanding effort.

While the testing process varies by brand, in general patients will visit a website to select a testing location, then answer a series of questions to determine whether their symptoms meet CDC guidelines for testing. If so, the patient receives a date and time to be tested, as well as a voucher for the test. On site, patients self-administer a nasal swab, with clinical staffing provided by the pharmacy. No testing is done in-store.

To read eTrueNorth’s press release announcing the testing program, click here.