Walmart and Kroger increase the cost of the BinaxNOW COVID-19 rapid tests
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Retail giants Walmart along with Kroger have both increased the cost of BinaxNOW Rapid COVID-19 testing after the expiration of a deal with the Biden administration. Biden administration to offer the self-test kits to test for antigens at no cost. 
In September the two companies together with Amazon signed a contract in September with the White House to sell the coronavirus test developed by Abbott Laboratories for $14 for 100 days. The contract ended the month.
The Abbott BinaxNOW Covid-19 antigen self-testing device is displayed in an image before being handed out to attendees of the conference prior to the Consumer Electronics Show on Jan. 2 2022, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WMT | WALMART INC. | 129.13 | +0.82 | +0.64% |
| KR | THE KROGER CO. | 46.79 | -0.07 | -0.15% |
| AMZN | AMAZON.COM INC. | 142.69 | +4.86 | +3.53% |
“The program ended in mid-December, and while other retailers increased prices in mid-December, Walmart held the $14.00 through the holidays before increasing the price,” a Walmart spokesperson said to FOX Business in an announcement. The cost of the tests is now $19.98.
The company stated that tests are available in Walmart stores as well as online however, they noted that there are limitations on purchases set due to “significant demand” for at-home coronavirus tests. This BinaxNOW test is currently not available on Walmart.com.
President Biden talks during a State Dining Room in the White House, Thursday, September. 9 in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik / AP Newsroom)
A spokesperson from Kroger said to FOX Business that the company has now fulfilled its promise in that of the Biden administration “that pricing program has now phased out and retail pricing has been reinstated.” Kroger is selling two-test Kits for $23.99.
Amazon.com doesn’t currently have BinaxNOW tests for purchase, and the company did not respond immediately to FOX Business’ request for clarification.
The increased demand for COVID-19 tests has been fueled by the holiday season and the highly infectious omicron variant, which makes the kits difficult to locate and difficult to keep available. The average amount of tests performed daily is close to records.
Then, at Logan Airport, travelers lined up to be tested for COVID-19 coronavirus within Boston at the end of December. 20 20, 2021. (Suzanne Kreiter/The Boston Globe via Getty Images / Getty Images)
The Biden administration pledged in the last month to release 500 million home tests available to Americans to purchase through the new website in January. However, specifics of the timing and cost aren’t available yet.
