DEAR PROBE

Q

All Valley Urgent Care is providing rapid testing to detect COVID-19 at a cost of $175 a test.

The results for a number of individuals tested there were positive, and they then had to have a second test — a PCR test which resulted in a negative report.

Why is All Valley Urgent Care not using an FDA-approved test like at least one other doctor in the Valley is doing? Why is the Imperial County Public Health Department allowing this rapid and costly test that is not FDA approved to continue?

A

Health Public Information Officer Fernanda Lynch said antibody results do not rule out COVID-19, particularly in those who have been in contact with the virus.

Follow-up testing with a molecular diagnostic test should be performed to rule out infection in these individuals. Results from antibody testing should not be used as the sole basis to diagnose or exclude COVID-19 or to inform infection status, Lynch said.

Additionally, positive results may be due to past or present infection with non-COVID-19 coronavirus strains. The Imperial County Public Health Department has communicated with local healthcare providers, including All Valley Urgent Care, related to testing and other COVID-19 practices, Lynch said.

She said several of its local healthcare providers are working directly with commercial laboratories.

If local providers are not able to secure COVID-19 diagnostic testing supplies through a private vendor, commercial laboratories may provide such supplies to them.

Local healthcare providers must coordinate directly with the commercial laboratories, but the public health department does not have the authority to stop healthcare providers from testing.

The state and federal governments have jurisdiction. However, the information about the limitations of antibody testing has been distributed, not only to healthcare providers, but it also has been shared with the larger community.

“It is the responsibility of the healthcare provider to inform their patients of the limitations of antibody tests,” she said.

COVID-19 testing is also available to all Imperial County residents through OptumServe at no out-of-pocket cost. Those looking to get tested can do so by scheduling an appointment at lhi.care/covidtesting or by calling (888) 634-1123.

As a background, at least three people tested positive after waiting a week for the results and then the second test was negative.

The public needs to be aware of the double cost if they are not using the county’s free testing — plus the anxiety caused to the family with a false positive test.