Self-swab testing begins, more sites to follow

RAYNHAM, Mass. — CVS Health began its new self-swab tests Friday morning, the latest iteration of testing conducted by the company since the coronavirus pandemic began.

In March, the company began drive-thru swabbing at a location off Route 9 in Shrewsbury, it added a similar site in Lowell. Now, new, less invasive tests are being done at nine locations in the commonwealth.

Customers who have registered online and met federal criteria for those thought to be infected, schedule a time and location for the self-swab. Once they arrive, a kit is prepared in a plastic bag, they remove it, conduct the test in their vehicle under the watchful eye of a technician, swab their nose, and put the swab back in the kit and return it to a box on the side of the building.

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“This "self-swab and send" model allows us to implement greater testing capacity in our communities as quickly as possible. It also enables us to efficiently manage the testing process at store drive-thru locations, which have a smaller footprint than the large-scale rapid test sites,” said Joe Goode, Senior Director of Corporate Communications.

Boston 25 News asked CVS about the potential for problems with the self-swabbing kits as previous drive-thru were completed by a nurse.

“At our newly established drive-thru sites, our Pharmacy Technicians have been trained on how to use the swab and send test kit, and know what to look for when helping the patient properly self-administer the kit. Certainly, it is possible that a mistake could occur,” Goode explained.

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Boston 25 News spoke with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health about any potential concerns over the accuracy of self-swab test kits.

“Collection of the swab sample is observed by a medical professional and then packaged for submission to a laboratory that actually performs the FDA EUA approved COVID test,“ a DPH spokesperson said.

Originally, there were 10 CVS stores in 10 Massachusetts towns that were slated to part of the new testing, but, late Thursday, Wellesley was removed from the group.

Friday, a town spokesperson provided a reason for Wellesley’s departure from the list.

“The decision to remove CVS on Linden Street from the list of COVID-19 test sites was made jointly by Town officials and CVS, due to concerns about the density of that area and the popular Roche Bros. store that already makes traffic, parking and social distancing very difficult.”

A spokesperson went on to say that CVS has specific requirements for testing and town officials are happy to work to find another site in Wellesley that would meet the guidelines.

According to CVS, on May 22nd, it plans to open new drive-thru testing, and by the end of May, have 1,000 locations open nationwide.

The new testing sites in Massachusetts include: