The companies previously sold them at cost
have both raised the price for BinaxNOW rapid COVID-19 tests, following the expiration of an agreement with the Biden administration to sell the antigen self-test kits at cost.with the White House to sell the coronavirus tests made by Abbott Laboratories for $14 for 100 days, ending last month.
"The program ended in mid-December, and while other retailers increased prices in mid-December, Walmart held the $14.
President Joe Biden announced that the federal government would for the first time start mailing 500 million free rapid tests directly to Americans in January. A Kroger spokesperson confirmed to FOX Business that since fulfilling its commitment to the Biden administration "that pricing program has now phased out and retail pricing has been reinstated." Kroger is selling the two-test kits for $23.99. does not currently have the BinaxNOW tests available for sale, and the company did not immediately respond to FOX Business' request for comment.
A surge in demand for COVID-19 tests has been driven by holiday gatherings and the highly contagious omicron variant, making the kits both difficult to find and to keep in stock. The average number of tests administered per day is nearing record highs.administration vowed last month to make 500 million at-home tests available for Americans to order through a new website sometime in January, but the details regarding timing and costs have not yet been revealed.