Shoals Clinic Using Rapid Test Machine

WAAY 31's Breken Terry shows us how the clinic is using new technology to get tests back faster.

Back faster!

Look live: this is the coronavirus testing line here at medplus in florence.

Since i've been here i've seen about 10 cars come through here.

Employees that work here tell me since they've been open in the last three hours they've already done about 90 coronavirus tests.

<ray- yesterday we had 90 tests in 95 minutes done so the wait is much shorter at this time.

Nurse practitioner brandi ray told me that as the number of people who need to get tested rose - they weren't able to process as many tests because they had to send off samples they collected.

Ray- we got a call two fridays ago from a lot of the local labs we were using and ultimately it wasn't a lack of supply it was a lack of reagent.

Ray said the labs they used were running out the material needed to process specimens.

After those calls - med plus shutdown testing for a week to decide what to do.

The facility ended up buying these rapid coronavirus test machines.

Ray- this one is essentially like a flu test we have you to blow your nose and we swab up to the turbin on both sides.

With that being said we have a 95%accuracy or sensitivity rate with this one.

Ray said they've tested people as far away as chattanooga and mostly everyone wants the rapid test because results come back in one day.

Ray- others you know, 9 and 10 to 12 day wait times and ultimately your quarantine is up before you know negative or positive.

Essentially we want to get alabamians back to the workforce and be confident that employers are safe to have them there.

The rapid test is more expensive than others with a longer wait.

It costs $125.

Ray said she's hopeful insurance companies will start covering the rapid test soon - soon so people can find out if they have the virus quicker.

In florence bt waay31.