Hillsborough County Secures Rapid Test Kits for First Responders

COVID-19 Coronavirus Update No. 48

As Hillsborough County continues mitigation efforts in response to the COVID-19 coronavirus, Hillsborough County Emergency Management is expected to receive 44,000 rapid test kits, manufactured by American Bio Medica Corporation, to begin testing first responders and critical health care professionals on the front lines.

After Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared public safety officials should be given priority for these tests, Hillsborough County secured enough kits to administer the tests to all fire, EMS and police agencies in Hillsborough and its municipalities. Additionally, recognizing that assisted living facilities and nursing homes provide care to one of the most vulnerable populations, the County secured sufficient rapid test kits to ensure medical and nursing staff at these facilities will also be administered the test.

The test consists of a small finger prick, with a drop of blood placed on the testing instrument. The test provides definitive results within 10 minutes. Media reports and information recently released by the CDC suggests a large percent of the population may have the virus and never develop symptoms. This test is critical in determining if these essential health care workers and first responders are currently infected or have been exposed to the virus and developed antibodies.

The information garnered from the test results impacts our efforts in the fight against community spread of COVID-19. Individuals who are determined to have developed the antibodies could be safely deployed to "hot spots" to administer life-saving treatment.

The official date for the County to begin using the test kits is not yet determined, but officials will mobilize testing operations for first responders and identified medical personnel upon receipt. County staff will coordinate administration of the test with all local municipalities, nursing homes and assisted living facilities, and all other critical personnel.

Get Connected. Stay Alert.

For more information on COVID-19, and any other potential emergency in the county, visit HCFLGov.net/StaySafe and sign up for the HCFL Alert system. Additionally, you can follow Hillsborough County on social media at Facebook, Twitter, and Nextdoor for updates. For general County information, please call 813-272-5900, the County's main information line.