Rumors of fake test results ‘nonsense’

Test site companies say there’s no proof of false positives

As Florida reported the largest single-day increase in positive coronavirus cases anywhere in the United States since the beginning of the pandemic, social media began buzzing with people who claim they left a coronavirus test site because of a long line, but they still received a positive test result.

While this scenario sounds scary, there is no proof to back it up.

The Florida Department of Health, which is responsible for releasing information about testing, did not respond to multiple requests for comment on the issue.

At least four companies who each operate multiple test sites in South Florida say this scenario is highly unlikely.

Brooke Liddle, the spokesman for American Medical Response, which administers testing at Holiday Park in Fort Lauderdale and three other South Florida locations, says paperwork with a test taker’s information (email or phone number) is filled out just before the test is administered.

“The paperwork is sent with the test to the lab. The lab wouldn’t have paperwork unless there is a test to go with it,” he said.

CDR Maguire, which operates 12 testing sites in Florida, described a similar process: “Patients register right before the test is taken. The person collecting the specimen verifies their name and date of birth prior to collection to ensure the information is correct on the specimen vial.”

At Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, one of the sites mentioned in a social media tweet, test site spokesman Mike Jachles said, “We gather no client

information before they arrive to be tested.” Jachles said if someone leaves the line before getting swabbed, their lab requisition is shredded.

“That scenario is nonsense,” he said. “It is not consistent with the operations at the site.”

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department, mentioned in one tweet, said it is unaware of any officers who received positive results without being tested.

MDNow, which tests at its urgent care centers, said its testing is by appointment only. Spokeswoman Laura Spagna said while the centers do have the information in advance, no one would need to leave because of long lines and no one would get test results unless an actual swab occurs.

The spiking increase of cases in Florida, and the rumors emerging at the same time, come amid national concern about attempts to discredit the science behind the spread of the pandemic.

Yet, the conversation online continues. One University of Central Florida student tweeted Monday: “MIAMI-DADE IS FAKING POSITIVE TEST RESULTS. I’VE HAD TWO PEOPLE TELL ME AT THEIR JOBS PEOPLE WHO DIDNT EVEN GET TESTED WERE SENT RESULTS OF BEING POSITIVE WHICH GETS RECORDED.”

Most of the social posts refer to knowing a roommate, friend or co-worker who made an appointment to be tested for COVID-19, never went, but received a positive result. Sun Sentinel’s attempts to speak with the actual people who received the results went unanswered.

On Monday, Florida added 12,624 COVID cases, the second highest daily case count coming the day after the state set a single-day record in the United States for the number of cases, 15,300.

DAVID SANTIAGO/AP An American Medical Response health worker holds a swab after a person was tested at the COVID-19 drive-thru center at Holiday Park in Fort Lauderdale.