LOS ANGELES — Ralphs and Food 4 Less, subsidiaries of The Kroger Co., announced Monday the availability of free COVID-19 drive-thru testing offered through its Ralphs Pharmacy team of highly trained pharmacists and technicians for associates and the general public. Individuals requesting a test will complete an assessment using a virtual screening tool based on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) criteria, as well as local health department recommendations. The drive-thru testing will take place at the Los Angeles Southwest College by appointment only and will require a self-administered nasal swab ordered and observed by a Ralphs pharmacist.

“Our vision is to help people live healthier lives, and it has never been more important as we assist with the expansion of testing in Southern California,” said Kendra Doyel, Vice President of Merchandising at Ralphs. “This work, like all work we do, is guided by our values and our promise – to Feed the Human Spirit. We continue to make decisions that balance the safety of our associates with our commitments to our customers and communities. That is why Ralphs, Food 4 Less and Kroger Health will be donating all professional services at the drive-thru testing facilities.”

Appointments can be made by registering online at https://www.krogerhealth.com/covid-locations.

Eligible individuals will select a testing appointment time and will receive an email confirmation with pre-appointment paperwork to complete. When individuals arrive for their test, they should have their photo ID ready and should leave their window rolled up for check-in, until a Ralphs Pharmacist comes to the car to administer the test.

For the testing, patients will remain in their cars throughout the process, which is completed in just a few minutes using self-administered nasal swabs. This on-site testing is supported with laboratory services provided by eTrueNorth, a contractor of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Test results are expected within approximately 48 hours.