The Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium’s Haines Health Center received a COVID-19 rapid test machine this week that will enable clinic staff to offer same-day, in-house COVID-19 test results.
The machine came with 45 test kits, Haines Health Center medical director Lylith Widmer said.
“At this moment, because we have limited rapid testing capacity, our criteria for rapid testing is limited,” Widmer said. “Some examples include residents of Haines Assisted Living who meet criteria for testing, frontline clinical staff who meet criteria for testing, and patients who are going to be medevacked who meet criteria for testing.”
The machine arrived at the clinic Tuesday, April 14. No rapid test had been administered as of April 15.
“The ability to produce fast test results in-house will be extremely valuable as we work to protect our high-risk populations, as well as ensure staff on the front lines are safe and available to provide care,” Widmer said.
Patients who don’t meet the criteria for rapid testing, but who display symptoms such as fever and cough, or shortness of breath will receive a standard test from SEARHC staff. Those tests will be sent to either a state or commercial lab. Results take between three to five days to come back, weather dependent.
For more information on test availability, including alternative test site locations and contact information, visit covid19.searhc.org or call the SEARHC COVID-19 Hotline at 907-966-8799.