Regional board approves purchase of COVID-19 home test kits for four towns

The Greater Burrows Partnership for Health advisory board voted Jan. 8 to buy 576 combined at-home COVID-19 test kits to distribute across Boylston, Southborough, Westborough and Northborough.

The board discussed vendor pricing, package sizes and expiration dates before the vote. Mikayla Petty, the region’s shared-service epidemiologist, showed a vendor price sheet and noted the new combined tests ‘‘expire in March 2027’’ and that the vendor’s unit math breaks down to about ‘‘$3.84 for 96 tests’’ in the packaging shown. Petty said the group had considered ordering roughly 200 kits initially but discussed whether to buy more to make the longer shelf life cost-effective.

Board members debated how many kits to order given grant restrictions and likely two-season utility. Petty cautioned that some cheaper test options expire this May, while the newer kits would last longer. A board member moved to purchase ‘‘576 kits of the COVID blue 2 test kits’’; the motion was seconded by Chair Isabella Crusoe and the board took a roll-call assent. The participating towns indicated approval (Boylston: aye; Southborough: yes; Westborough: yes; Northborough: yes).

Petty said the purchase would be covered under contact-tracing grant funds and that the group could place supplemental orders later in the year if they used the stock more quickly than expected. She also noted the grant runs through June 30, and the board agreed to confirm any quantity changes with the grant coordinator before finalizing larger increases.

The board directed staff to proceed with ordering and to follow up with required grant confirmations and logistics for distribution across the four towns.