Montco residents getting test results quicker
NORRISTOWN Montgomery County officials began using a new COVID-19 testing platform on Monday and so far they are pleased with the outcome, with reports that residents are now receiving their results within about 12 hours.
“So far, so good, we’re really pleased about this,” county Commissioners’ Chairwoman Dr. Valerie Arkoosh said on Wednesday, referring to the launch of a testing program by Mako-Medical, a North Carolina company that has promised to provide COVID-19 test results for those tested at the county’s six walk
up testing sites within 36 hours. “We’re hoping that if there aren’t issues with transportation or things like that, that we will continue to see very timely results which we couldn’t be happier about.
“We did send the first batch of 156 tests to Mako on Monday evening and I heard from some constituents that who by 8 o’clock on Tuesday morning had gotten a text message from Mako that their results were available through their patient portal,” Arkoosh added.
Last month, county officials expressed frustration about reports that it was taking between eight and 14 days for residents to receive test results from multiple labs. Officials previously attributed the delays to labs being at capacity, given the explosion of new virus cases across the U.S.
Officials have said delays in getting results cause anxiety for residents and have other implications, including delaying a person notifying close contacts if they turn out to be positive.
“This has a significant impact on our ability to do contact tracing that is quick and will notify people right away that they’re positive and then that just gets us that much closer to their direct contacts to get them into quarantine. This is how we will continue to suppress this virus,” Arkoosh said.
When constituents reported the delays last month, state Rep. Todd Stephens (R-151st Dist.) began working with The Physicians Integrated Network (TPIN), an organization of 750 physician specialists serving 1.6 million patients in the Delaware Valley, hoping to reduce the time it takes to receive test results.
Following Stephens’ introduction, Mako-Medical signed an agreement with Montgomery County to test COVID-19 specimens, which are flown by private plane to North Carolina with a less than 36-hour turnaround time.
That turnaround time is a contractual obligation written into the agreement.
Stephens said one county resident who was tested on Monday and signed up for the Mako notification system received his test result in about 12 hours.
“This is great news,” Stephens said. “It proves we can return results to individuals while there is time to treat a patient who needs it or allow those who test negative to return to work or school or contact vulnerable family members without unnecessary delays.”
Under the agreement with the county, MakoMedical will call the county with daily positive results, and a spreadsheet will be sent to the county with all results. The company will also notify patients when their results are completed via text message to limit phone calls and work for the county.
“To be clear, the county will still continue to call everyone but if the individual chooses to opt in to notification from Mako they have that option and they are given information about how to do that at the test site. If they do choose to opt in, they’ll receive a text message from Mako when their results are available,” said Arkoosh, who was joined at the weekly news briefing by fellow Commissioner Kenneth E. Lawrence Jr.
The physicians of TPIN also expressed excitement about the success of Monday’s launch, said Mark Victor, MD, chairman of TPIN.
“Getting timely results will enable our patients to return to work and resume their normal routines with the least amount of disruption,” said Victor, praising the efforts of Arkoosh, Stephens and Dr. Alvin Wang, regional EMS medical director. “The amount of integration and logistics to make this happen were herculean and would not have been successful without the Montgomery County leadership’s persistence.”
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, officials reported 40 more individuals tested positive for the coronavirus, bringing the county’s total number of cases to 10,351 since March 7, when the first two cases of the virus were identified in the county.
The new positive individuals included 17 females and 23 males, who ranged in age from 5 to 98 and resided in 22 municipalities, according to the latest statistics.
Officials reported no new coronavirus deaths on Wednesday, leaving the county’s death toll at 824.
Overall, officials said, county residents continue to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the county.
The overall positivity rate, taking into account all county residents who were tested for the virus between March 13 and Aug. 18, was 2.82%, according to the latest data.
Health officials believe having a positivity rate less than 5% indicates the county is controlling the spread of the virus and keeping it suppressed. To keep the positivity rate below 5%, Arkoosh stressed residents should continue to abide by all mask wearing, handwashing and social distancing recommendations.
“In terms of our hospital beds the news continues to be reassuring,” said Arkoosh, adding that on Wednesday, 47 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 in the county and only four of the individuals required a ventilator.
At the peak of the pandemic in April, the county reported several hundred hospitalizations.
Officials said testing is available for all county residents and those who work in the county and want or need to be tested.
The county has established outdoor walk-up testing sites in Pottstown, Norristown, Lansdale, Willow Grove, Ardmore and Green Lane to accommodate those who want to be tested.
Currently, each of the six sites has 30 tests available daily for a total of 180. Next Monday, the county intends to provide 50 tests at each site daily for a total of 300.
“Our eventual goal is to get up to 100 tests per site. That is probably mid-September that we’re looking at that,” Arkoosh said.
The county-run sites provide self-administered tests at no cost, although insurance will be billed if you have it. The sites do require an appointment for testing.
To register for a test at any of the six sites, residents can visit www.montcopa.org/COVID-19 and click on the county testing information button.
Residents can also register for a test at any of the six sites by calling 610-9702937.
That phone number as well as the online registration will open at 8:30 a.m. daily.
In Pottstown, the testing site is located at the county’s Office of Public Health Pottstown Health Center at 364 King St. Testing is available by appointment Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from noon to 2 p.m. and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
In Norristown, a testing site is located on the parking lot of the Delaware Valley Community Health Norristown Regional Health Center at 1401 DeKalb St. Testing is available Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10 a.m. to noon, and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
In Lansdale, a testing site is located at 421 Main St. and is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 2 p.m.
Another testing site is located at Deep Creek and Snyder roads in the Green Lane Park area, where tests are available Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 2 p.m.
In Ardmore, a testing site is located at 114 W. Lancaster Avenue where testing is available Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 2 p.m.
In Willow Grove, testing is available at First Baptist Church - Crestmont, 1678 Fairview Ave. Testing there is available Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from noon to 2 p.m. and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.