At-Home COVID Testing Being Phased Out

Posted: January 2, 2021

Morris County’s at-home testing program is being phased out for all but homebound, symptomatic residents. Instead, the focus will be on having residents use the walk-up testing center at County College of Morris (CCM).

Opened at the student center earlier in December, it requires individuals to preregister for a test through the Morris County COVID-19 website.

Individuals who are symptomatic and unable to leave their home will still be able to order no-cost, at-home tests through the Morris County COVID-19 website but the only at-home test available will be a federally-supported nasal test known as Pixel, which is provided by Lab Corp.

The previous at-home test—a saliva test offered through Vault Health—is being phased out. According to the county, the transition became necessary because more than 50 percent of the people who ordered the at-home Vault tests hoarded them, forcing authorities to focus Morris County’s limited COVID-19 testing resources on programs that are not as easily abused. About 16,300 of the at-home Vault tests were ordered, yet only 7,500 were returned with samples for testing.