[UPDATE] Drive-through covid19 tests available at 2 private clinics for a fee

With an increase in covid19 cases, two private medical institutions have been given clearance to do tests.

The testing is done by one laboratory at two clinics – St Clair and St Augustine.

But the prices vary. At St Clair the cost of the test is $1,650 and it is done by appointment only, between 9 am and 11.30 am. At St Augustine the cost is $1,100. Testing is done only on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 11 am and 1 pm.

Staff at both facilities said the patient is not in contact with anyone, except the doctor performing the test.

“It is a drive-through service. The patient pulls up at the accident and emergency department, where the doctor performs the swabs in the vehicle, and that is it.

“There is no contact with anyone and the results are given within a 48-hour period.”

A staff member at the St Augustine facility told Newsday there has been a drastic increase in covid19 tests done within the last month.

Head of the Medical Board Dr Varma Deyalsingh said the price difference was based on overhead expenses unique to each facility.

He explained, “Price difference may be that the overhead of rental in St Clair may be more or of having more staff to do the drive-through testing. Or even that even for certain medical procedures the cost is more around nursing homes in the north.”

Deyalsingh said there were about 45 laboratories on the waiting list to be certified before they can carry out private covid19 testing.

He said, “As far as I know there is still no accrediting body for laboratories. Recommendation was made for the Bureau of Standards (TTBS) to set up a medical laboratories team to have protocols to set up such laboratories. The Ministry of Trade and Industry. through TTBS. has promised this in the near future."

A private lab, he said, must apply to the Ministry of Health (MoH). which will involve Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to help in validating the lab. There are strict protocols in place which entail proper infrastructure, personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff and adherence to safety standards. Staff has to be trained for this to prevent contamination.

“MoH, through CARPHA, provides technical oversight for private labs to become certified to test for the covid19 virus. PAHO assists in the quality control of private laboratories that wish to be assessed via this initiative must apply to the Office of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and MoH.”

Deyalsingh added that even though laboratories were authorised, all positive samples must be rechecked and tested at CARPHA, since three positive tests done privately proved incorrect.

MoH has said under section 7.2 of the Public Health Ordinance regulations that laboratories doing such tests must report positive results to the CMO, Dr Roshan Parasram. A fine of $50,000 or six months' imprisonment is incurred if the laboratory or the patient breaches the regulations.

With validation delays and the MoH’s strict operating guidelines, Deyalsingh said some doctors were postponing elective surgery because patients were not being tested in a timely manner.

He added that the MoH promised increased testing at public health institutions but there were many delays with the system set up and has called for an immediate investigation.

Deyalsingh said, “The ministry promised testing will be expanded to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC) where a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machine was validated by CARPHA to supplement testing efforts, as an additional PCR machine was to be placed at the Trinidad Public Health Laboratory to assist in expanding testing. The ministry will have to answer about the availability and functioning of these machines.

"There are many health centres scattered throughout the country where one can get tested free of charge. However there seems to be a delay in getting back the test results .

“This can mean a setback for public health authorities to decide on a course of action, implementing contact tracing, providing care and guidance, or to inform someone that they have not contracted the virus. It is mental turmoil waiting for these results, not knowing outcome and having to be on lockdown.”

The CMO could not be contacted for comment on the validation process and whether more private laboratories had applied for approval to do testing but were unsuccessful.

This story has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

With an increase in covid19 cases, two private medical laboratories have been given clearance to do tests,

At one laboratory in St Clair the cost per test is $1,650 and is done by appointments only. Testing is done between 9 am and 11.30 am.

A member of staff said during the procedure, the patient is not in contact with anyone at the facility, except the doctor performing the test.

“It is a drive-through service. The patient pulls up at the accident and emergency department ,where the doctor performs the swabs in the vehicle, and that is it.

“There is no contact with anyone, and the results are given within a 48-hour period.”

The second laboratory is in St Augustine, where the cost for a test is $1,100. Testing is done only on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 11 am and 1 pm.

A hotline has been set up at this facility for covid19 testing and related matters. Similarly, testing is done in the patient’s vehicle, via a drive-through service, and the results are given within a 48-hour period.

A staff member told Newsday there has been a drastic increase in covid19 tests done in the last month.

The Ministry of Health has pointed out that the laboratories performing such tests have been mandated to report positive results to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO),. A fine of $50,000 or six months' imprisonment is incurred if the laboratory or the patient breaches the regulations.

CMO Dr Roshan Parasram could not be contacted for comment on the validation process and whether more private laboratories had applied for approval to do testing but were unsuccessful.