UMC will significantly increase the number of coronavirus tests it can process during the coming weeks, helping fill a critical need that is considered key to reopening our community and containing future outbreaks of the virus.
Today, UMC’s lab can process 500 tests per day. That number is expected to increase to 1,500 tests per day on Saturday, April 25, and then reach 4,000 tests per day on May 1.
By June 1, the UMC lab is expected to be able to process 10,000 tests per day. These tests are polymerase chain reaction tests, better known as PCR tests, and they show whether someone currently has the coronavirus.
The tests usually take about 24 hours to complete.
In addition, UMC’s lab will launch coronavirus anti-body testing on May 30. The anti-body tests can show whether someone is currently infected, and whether they have been infected in the past.
Officials are still determining how many anti-body tests the hospital will be able to process.
Currently, tests are only provided to individuals who have symptoms of the coronavirus and a doctor’s order to get tested.
More details about the expanded testing capabilities will be released with the next week.
