Virus tests should soon expand in state
Officials say private labs will get testing materials
Tennessee health officials have boosted the coronavirus testing capacity of the state laboratory but said they still have a “somewhat limited” supply of testing materials and are being conservative when deciding who to test.
However, officials also said that private laboratories should soon begin conducting tests of their own, lifting some of the testing burden off of state and federal labs that have done all the testing so far.
“The game is about to change for testing,” said Tennessee Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey said. “We will, very soon, imminently, move from not only state health lab testing but also commercial availability. The state lab will continue to test, but the capacity will be significantly expanded given this commercialization.”
Piercey announced Monday the state now had enough testing materials to check 165 people for coronavirus, up from only 85 last week. The state had tested 49 people.
Mary-margaret Fill, a state epidemiologist, said Monday that officials were “thrilled” to see the rise of private testing, but that the department was still using a strict criteria for testing due to its “ongoing somewhat limited testing capacity.”
To qualify, a patient must have traveled to a high-risk area, had contact with a confirmed case and exhibit symptoms, she said. The department has also begun testing some people with severe pneumonia in search of overlap with the virus, she said.
“In a way, it’s a sort of surveillance to determine if there are people in our ICUS that might be infected with this virus that we might not otherwise know about,” Fill said.
Coronavirus, or COVID-19, is a fastspreading virus that originated in Wuhan, China, but has since become a worldwide epidemic. As of Tuesday, the virus had infected about 114,000 people and killed more than 4,000, according to the World Health Organization. In the United States, the virus had spread to at least a 36 states and the District of Columbia, and deaths have occurred in California, Florida and Washington state. A shortage of tests materials has limited coronavirus response in some parts of the country.
Here’s what to know about coronavirus tests:
Where do I get tested?
Currently there is no over-thecounter test, and not everywhere is set up for testing. Only certain labs have been allowed to do tests for COVID-19.
If you think you are at risk and need to get tested, contact your health care provider and they will inform you on next steps.
When should I get tested?
Since most places don’t have the capability to test, and there are limited supplies, a phone conversation – referred to as telephone triage – with your doctor is preferable than rushing to an emergency room or urgent care clinic.
If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 – fever, cough, and/or shortness of breath – or have been in close contact with someone infected with the virus, you should immediately contact your health care provider. They will assess your risk and let you know whether arrangements should be made for them to contact the local or state health department.
Local and state public health staff will determine if the patient meets the criteria for a person under investigation. You may be told to go to a special lab for your test.
How much will the test cost?
It depends.
Any tests conducted by a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state or city public health laboratory are free to patients. However, as mentioned above, only certain facilities are equipped for this kind of testing and tests will be given at the recommendation of a health care provider in conjunction with the CDC.
Testing at a hospital or private lab will depend on a lot of factors.
“It is going to be a function of whether or not they are insured and what kind of coverage they have,” Jen Kate,s senior vice president and director of global health and HIV policy at Kaiser Family Foundation, told Marketwatch. “They could face the cost of a doctor’s office or hospital outpatient or ER visit – a particular issue for those who are uninsured or have a high deductible.”
Other medical costs associated with a visit will depend on an individuals insurance plan, or lack thereof.
“With regard to the cost, let me be very clear: HHS has designated the coronavirus test as an essential health benefit,” Vice President and coronavirus czar Mike Pence said in a March 4 press briefing. “That means, by definition, it’s covered in the private health insurance of every American, as well as covered by Medicare and Medicaid.”
Bluecross and Blueshield of Tennessee, a Chattanooga-based nonprofit that covers about 70% of the state private insurance market, said in a news release Monday it would waive all copays and cost sharing for coronavirus testing.
Can I get the test if I’m uninsured?
Yes, but as with any medical care if it is done through a hospital or private lab the patient may be charged the full amount.
What happens during testing?
According to Medlineplus, an online health information resource from the National Library of Medicine, there are a few ways that a lab may get a test sample:
❚ Swab test: A health care provider will use a special swab to take a sample from your nose or throat.
❚ Nasal aspirate: A health care provider will inject a saline solution into your nose, then remove the sample with gentle suction.
❚ Tracheal aspirate: A health care provider will put a thin, lighted tub called a bronchoscope down your mouth and into your lungs, where a sample will be collected.
❚ Sputum: A thick mucus that is coughed up from the lungs, you may be asked to cough it up into a special cup or a swab may be used to take a sample from your nose.
❚ Blood: A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm.
How can I protect myself against the coronavirus?
There is still a lot of unknowns in the case of COVID-19, but the CDC and medical experts recommend you protect yourself the same way you would for any other form of illness. That includes:
❚ Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
❚ Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
❚ Stay home when you are sick.
❚ Cover your cough and/or sneeze with a tissue, then throw it away.
❚ Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
❚ Wash your hands frequently with soap and water. Medical experts recommend washing for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
❚ Alcohol-based hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol) may be used if soap and water are not readily available.
Brett Kelman is the health care reporter for The Tennessean. He can be reached at 615-259-8287 or at brett.kelman@tennessean.com. Follow him on Twitter at @brettkelman.