Analysis: Testing for COVID-19 conducted by UR Medicine
UR Medicine Expands COVID-19 Testing and Antibody Testing Services
UR Medicine, a leading healthcare system in the region, has expanded its services to include COVID-19 antibody tests and has been processing these tests since March 2020. This development comes as UR Medicine Labs can now handle up to 4,000 COVID PCR tests and several hundred antibody tests per day.
The antibody tests are collected by healthcare providers wearing protective gear, transported to the lab via a courier, and processed in a biosafety level 2 area lab. The tests are ordered for various reasons, such as for patients diagnosed or treated for Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome of Children (MIS-C), those who have recovered from COVID-19 and want to donate convalescent plasma, those who had symptoms but didn't get tested, and UR Medicine affiliates who want to check for previous exposure.
UR Medicine follows current best practices, emphasising PCR testing for the highest sensitivity, with rapid antigen testing used for quicker results or repeated testing to rule out infection. Symptomatic individuals should have two antigen tests 48 hours apart if PCR is not performed; asymptomatic people need three tests spaced similarly to rule out COVID-19.
For UR Medicine patients, PCR testing is available at urgent care centers with a referral from a UR Medicine physician. The specific criteria for COVID-19 testing at UR Medicine are not explicitly detailed, but they likely follow current guidelines. Testing is recommended if you have COVID-19 symptoms to confirm infection and guide care, especially if symptoms are moderate or severe. Testing may be offered if you need travel clearance with PCR or rapid antigen tests, depending on destination requirements. If you test positive and are at higher risk of severe illness (due to age or medical conditions), clinics evaluate eligibility for antiviral treatments such as Paxlovid.
Results from COVID tests are available within 24 hours, with high-priority tests processed in under six hours and routine tests taking 48 hours or slightly longer when testing volumes are high. Antibody test results are available within 24 hours as well. It's important to note that UR Medicine Labs process PCR tests from all UR Medicine hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and other facilities.
For outpatient procedures, pre-operative COVID testing may be completed up to five days before the procedure. For any outpatient elective surgery or procedure that requires general anesthesia, pre-operative COVID testing should be completed one to three days prior to surgery with rare exceptions. Minor procedures and surgeries performed with minimal sedation do not require pre-procedure testing.
Patients who think they are ill with COVID-19 should call their health care provider or use the MyChart patient portal. Those without a health care provider can contact the Monroe County Health Department for advice. During the testing process, patients getting a COVID-19 PCR or antibody test will be asked to provide their home address, phone number, occupation, employer name, work address, employer phone number, whether they work or volunteer in a school, the name of the school (if applicable), whether they attend school (if applicable), and information for contact tracing efforts.
For precise UR Medicine criteria, contacting their testing sites or checking their official website would provide the exact current requirements and procedures.
The antibody tests at UR Medicine are utilized for individuals who have recovered from COVID-19, want to donate convalescent plasma, had symptoms but didn't get tested, or are UR Medicine affiliates seeking to check for previous exposure, demonstrating a link between science, medical-conditions, and health-and-wellness.
UR Medicine's antibody tests are processed within 24 hours and serve various purposes, such as confirming previous exposure or guiding care for patients with Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome of Children (MIS-C), indicative of the connection between science, healthcare, and health-and-wellness.
