Special Delivery of COVID-19 Tests – Sign Up Today!

Public Information Officers, 

To help ensure that schools and families have the tools they need to stay healthy next fall, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will be shipping, upon request, free at-home COVID-19 testing kits to K-12 schools. These tests can be used at each school’s discretion and there are no reporting requirements associated with receipt of the testing kits. 

To order, please complete this online form by June 26th. Schools may order up to one testing kit per student. Example use cases might include:

• Providing students, staff, and families with free at-home testing kits at your open house events in August.
• Keeping a supply of at-home testing kits handy for use by school nursing staff.

(For more details, please see the FAQs below.)

Thank you for your unwavering commitment to keeping our students healthy and ready to learn. For any questions, please reach out to our team at K12COVIDTesting@dhhs.nc.gov.   

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my school eligible to order tests?
All North Carolina K-12 schools are eligible. To order, please complete this online form by June 26th.

How many tests should my school order? 
We are encouraging schools to order one at-home test kit per student for distribution at open houses and other school community events. Every school can order up to one testing kit per student.

When will tests arrive?
Tests will begin ship between mid-June and mid-July. When your tests ship, you will receive an email from our team. Please let us know if there is a specific arrival window before mid-July you would prefer.

What should I know about receiving my shipment of tests?
Unless otherwise requested, participating schools will receive one testing kit per student. This can add up to a lot of tests, so we want you to be prepared. Please make sure you have adequate storage. Below are the key details you will need:

• Shipments of more than 720 testing kits will arrive on pallets.
• Each pallet can hold up to 1440 testing kits. A pallet has a footprint of 42 inches by 48 inches. The height of a full pallet is approximately 80 inches.
• Tests should be stored in a dry location between 35°-86°F. For more information on storing the InteliSwab Test Kits: https://www.fda.gov/media/149912/download.

When will the tests expire?
Tests shipping from NCDHHS have expiration dates on or after April 24, 2024. Please remember that printed expiration dates on many COVID-19 tests have been extended by the FDA. To learn if an at-home COVID-19 test has an extended expiration date, please visit myspot.nc.gov/NewDate. 

Is there any required documentation or reporting?
No. There is no documentation, reporting, or tracking required with this opportunity. You simply receive the tests, keep them on hand, and use/distribute as needed.

How should we use the tests?
These at-home COVID-19 testing kits can be used at your school’s discretion. Again, there are no reporting requirements for receipt and use of these tests. A few suggested use cases include:

• Using some of the tests for summer school or camps.
• Keeping a stockpile for school health staff to use or distribute, as needed, this fall.
• Handing out free tests at open houses this fall for students and their families.