Obtaining Rapid POC Testing Supplies
The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) has procured 250,000 rapid point-of-care (POC) antigen tests and 150 testing devices from manufacturer Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD).
Rapid POC testing supplies will be available for purchase, as supplies permit, from MDH at a cost of $990.00/kit of 30 tests and $325.00/testing device. Each testing device has a shelf life of two years or 3,500 tests, whichever occurs first; each test has a current shelf life of six months. Please also note that each facility wishing to obtain these supplies must have a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA) waiver and the appropriate state laboratory permit.
To obtain or change the required lab permits:
-
If you already have a Maryland laboratory license and CLIA certification, fully complete a change form to add the COVID antigen test.
Distribution Prioritization: Rapid POC testing supplies will be available for purchase by MDH according to the following order of priority:
1.) Congregate-care facilities
- Nursing Homes
- Correctional Facilities
- Facilities with dormitories and other residential settings
- Assisted Living Facilities (ALF)
2.) Residential Treatment Facilities
- Developmental Disability Facilities
- Behavioral Health Facilities
3.) State agencies and local health departments (LHDs)
4.) Other private entities, including somatic healthcare providers
This order of priority is based on the following considerations:
-
Ability to establish an appropriate test-setting and organizational infrastructure. This infrastructure includes staffing, quality assurance/quality control, results reporting, and test management protocols. Additionally, each facility requires:
- designated testing space;
- CLIA waiver certification and appropriate state permit;
- appropriate personnel on site to collect specimens and process samples; and
-
appropriate personnel to electronically report all results daily to the state, via Maryland’s Health Information Exchange, CRISP. Information on how to register to use CRISP can be found here.
-
Need for POC tests as determined by:
-
total number of estimated at-risk and/or infected individuals -OR-
- institutional need to maintain operations.
-
Surrounding county positivity rate as identified by the Centers for Medicaid/Medicare Services (CMS) (current rates can be found here under heading “COVID-19 Testing”). Counties with higher positivity rates will be placed higher on the distribution list.
Indicating demand: Please fill out this interest form so that Maryland can estimate demand and determine the need for additional orders. Completion of this form does not constitute order fulfillment.
