Battelle to Support Deployment of COVID-19 Tests in Midwest Under HHS Contract

The Department of Health and Human Services has awarded Battelle a contract to oversee the logistics of deploying COVID-19 tests in 16 states in the Midwest. 

Battelle said Thursday it will begin testing in early July through HHS’ Midwest Expanded Testing Coordination Hub with a focus on schools and underserved populations. 

The nonprofit company was one of the three entities that secured agreements worth $650 million combined from HHS and the Department of Defense to help expand coronavirus testing for underserved populations, K-8 schools and congregate settings. Eurofins and PerkinElmer Health Sciences were the other two awardees.

Battelle will also carry out outreach and coordination efforts in addition to meeting the contract’s logistical requirements.

“Our testing program helps schools, congregate care settings, and communities reduce the spread of the virus and limit the need for other public health steps like widespread quarantine,” said Sanjeeth Pai, general manager of Battelle’s health business.

Battelle’s program seeks to test 750,000 individuals on a weekly basis as part of efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.