In this week’s coronavirus update with Southwest Health System staff, KSJD speaks with Alan Laird, director of laboratory services, to understand the current and forthcoming testing capabilities at the hospital.
A shortened turnaround on test results helps with quickly identifying COVID-19 patients and their recent contacts, allowing more time for health departments and governments to react to a growth in cases.
Note: Southwest Health System is an underwriter of KSJD.
Rapid testing is already available at SHS with an Abbott device that can provide results within an hour. But there are some limitations: the device can only run one test at a time, Laird said, and the limited number of test kits available for it means it’s reserved for the most vulnerable patients.
Most people getting testing at SHS have had their samples sent outside of the hospital to a national laboratory, Laird said. Lately, those results have come back within 48 hours, compared to a previous waiting period of three to seven days.
SHS is also expecting the delivery of a BD Max analyzer. The equipment was ordered after fundraising for its purchase, including a contribution from Montezuma County, but the delivery has been delayed because of the high nationwide demand for such devices.
Laird said the analyzer can run about 24 samples at a time.
“Once we get that installed, we’ll be able to significantly ramp up our capacity,” Laird said, adding that SHS is hoping to receive a few hundred tests a week for its operation, though that also depends on how those are allocated.
Hear Laird’s full interview with KSJD below.