The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) has launched new and current training programs and resources to assist responders on the front lines of health care in staying safe and up to date with the latest research and practice guidance for the COVID-19 pandemic, it was reported on Tuesday.

APhA vice president, Professional Education Resources, Daniel Zlott, PharmD, BCOP, said, 'We are diligently working on behalf of pharmacists and patients to address the training needs of all as we face unprecedented times. Pharmacists can assist patients in a number of ways, including helping to increase the number of individuals who are able to be tested for COVID-19 and providing education to patients.'

The APhA's COVID-19 Specimen Collection Training guides pharmacists through the collection of nasopharyngeal swabs. The program will be adaptable to other testing methods once they become more widely available, such as nasal swabs, oral swabs, fingerstick tests, and other new technologies.