Expanding access to COVID-19 testing is a core principle of New Jersey's recovery plan for promoting public health and restoring economic health. New Jersey is:

• increasing diagnostic testing capacity;
• prioritizing testing for health care workers, essential personnel, and vulnerable populations;
• creating a flexible testing plan accessible to all residents;
• expanding partnerships with institutions of higher education, private-sector labs, and the federal government; and
• ensuring that those who test positive are linked to a health care provider.

The State is partnering with the private sector to increase the availability of COVID-19 testing in New Jersey. Testing for COVID-19 is being performed in the state by both LabCorp and BioReference Laboratories, enhancing access to testing for state residents. In addition, the state's Public Health and Environmental Laboratories will soon be able to process over 1,000 tests a day and is developing specimen collection kits in order to relieve shortages of critical kit components.

Rutgers University has developed a new saliva-based testing system, which will go into wide use at New Jersey's five Residential Developmental Centers, by New Jersey's largest health care systems, and at first responder test sites sponsored by the New Jersey State Policemen's Benevolent Association.

Additionally, the Department of Health is purchasing high-throughput diagnostic lab equipment which will allow the state lab to be capable of processing over 1,000 tests per day. Furthermore, in response to shortages of critical components of specimen collection kits, DOH is in the process of developing and validating its own specimen collection kits, which can be used by healthcare providers in the state to send samples to any lab that offers testing for COVID-19. In tandem, these critical steps will enable a much-needed expansion of testing that will identify more COVID-19 tests and save lives.

On April 10, the State announced the acquisition of 15 point-of-care Abbot ID NOW testing instruments from the federal government to expand access to COVID-19 testing in New Jersey. The portable, rapid testing machines will be dispersed to health care systems throughout the state and are able to test for COVID-19 and process specimens in approximately 5-13 minutes.
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Posted/Updated: 4/27/20

Source: https://www.nj.gov/governor/news/news/562020/approved/20200320c.shtml"https://www.nj.gov/governor/news/news/562020/approved/20200320c.shtml; https://nj.gov/governor/news/news/562020/approved/20200410a.shtml; Governor's Remarks