The Health and Human Services (HHS) program that distributes Abbott BinaxNOW tests to skilled nursing facilities and assisted living communities will continue after the end of the Public Health Emergency (PHE). HHS has not set an end date and is looking for opportunities to continue supporting facilities/communities with testing supplies.
HHS will be shifting the shipments of point-of-care (POC) Abbott Binax cards to Abbott Binax over-the-counter tests (OTC). These two products are nearly identical in use and performance. The OTC tests will have at least 60-days until expiration at the time of delivery. The OTCs can be used as point-of-care in sites that have valid CLIA-waivers. Additionally, they can be self-administered by individuals who are capable.
As a reminder, facilities/communities must have an active CLIA waiver to receive shipments. Quantities received are based on CMS estimates of staffing and county positivity rates and allocation quantities.
If there are questions related to the HHS BinaxNOW distribution Program, please contact
Binax.team@hhs.gov.