Amazon COVID-19 Test Kit Not for NY

Labs processing New York state-collected nasal swab samples for COVID-19 testing must have a New York state clinical laboratory permit, a spokesperson for the state Department of Health emailed Wednesday, responding to our question on the inability of New Yorkers to order Amazon’s test kit (see Notebook, July 7 issue of this publication). A notification, in red lettering, next to the test kit at Amazon.com says “cannot be shipped to your selected delivery location” for customers identified as living in New York. The department spokesperson said that “the lab associated with this kit does not currently have a permit issued by the Department of Health. Other at-home collection kits are permitted and available.” Amazon is working to make its consumer COVID-19 at-home test collection kit available for purchase in New York as soon as possible, we’re told. It announced general availability Tuesday. Customers get results within 24 hours of the sample’s arrival at a lab in Hebron, Kentucky. Amazon didn’t respond to a question asking about other states.