Steady Traffic For Cone Health Drive-Through Testing

Local health systems are offering drive-through coronavirus specimen-collection sites to help control the potential spread of the virus.

Tuesday was Cone Health's first day of off-site drive-through testing, and by mid-afternoon, more than 50 people had gone through the Wendover Avenue location in Greensboro.

Deborah Grant is the chief nursing officer for Cone Health. She says people need to know the service is not for anyone with just a fear of having the virus. 

To be tested, an individual must have an order from a physician. Prior to going through the collection, the patient needs to have been pre-screened by a doctor, either in person or through an e-visit. That helps rule out other sicknesses such as the flu.

Grant says only then will the collection take place and the specimen sent to LabCorp for testing.

“So if they do have this test, then they should be quarantining themselves, they should be isolating themselves, not going to restaurants and not going out in public,” she says. “If they come back positive, that's when they have to be in that quarantine at home for 14 days.” 

Grant says most patients can expect the results in about four to five days. Cone Health plans to open other locations in Alamance and Rockingham County.

The drive-through testing will continue for at least the next two weeks, and possibly longer depending upon how long the outbreak goes on.