New testing site to open in north Salinas
Northwest Laboratory will be able to test up to 200 patients a day
SALINAS >> A new drivethrough COVID-19 testing site will begin operations Wednesday in north Salinas with the ability to test up to 200 patients per day. Northwest Laboratory is opening the community testing site at Northridge Mall, 796 Northridge Dr. in the parking lot of the former Sears on the southwest corner of North Main and Madrid streets in Salinas.
“Anybody can get tested,” said Jennifer Bull, chief operating officer at Northwest Pathology & Laboratory Medicine.
Bull said Northwest Laboratory has worked closely with communities across the United States since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic and has provided laboratory analysis for multiple community testing programs.
“We’re happy to expand testing access for the community in Monterey County by opening the new testing site,” said Bull.
This new drive-through testing site will be operated by Northwest Laboratory.
Traffic will be directed through a planned route where people can obtain a test while staying in their cars.
Testing is scheduled to run Tuesday through Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to noon, with a half-hour break, then resume from 12:20 to 3:30 p.m.
Appointments for the Monterey County community COVID-19 testing site are available for scheduling now by visiting www.testdirectly.com.
Additionally, Northwest Laboratory staff can provide over-the-phone assistance for non-English speakers or for those who do not have computer or internet access by calling 360-543-6904 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The community testing site does not require a medical provider’s referral before testing and will accept both insured and uninsured patients. Northwest Laboratory testing sites are insurance-based, no cost to patients, testing.
Patients seeking a test will be asked to provide private insurance cards if they have insurance for billing, or social security or drivers license if they do not, so that HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration) CARES Act funding can be billed.
Once an appointment is made, the patient is assigned a QR (quick response) code that will appear on their mobile device to be scanned at the site to confirm the appointment and begin the collection process.
Bull explained that as people pull up in their cars, they will roll down their window and have their QR code scanned. The system automatically prints labels with the patient’s name and a unique barcode.
The Northwest Laboratory site will use a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) nasal swab test for COVID-19.
The specimen is collected and securely routed to the laboratory. Everything is connected electronically. There’s nothing to sign and no contact risk. The whole process takes five minutes. Once the report is generated it is instantly transferred to the patient and the public health agency.
Patients will receive results in 24 to 48 hours, said Bull.