Politics & Government
Contested UES COVID Company Admits Mistakes, But Menin Not Happy
Councilmember Julie Menin isn't buying explanations given by the company accused of making misleading claims about its UES COVID test site.
UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — The company that has become embroiled in controversy for giving unreliable results at its Upper East Side COVID-19 testing sites is pledging to make changes — but a neighborhood lawmaker remains skeptical.
The company, California-based PacGenomics, has come under fire for promising quick results at the testing tents it operates around the Upper East Side — only for those results to arrive weeks later, or in some cases not at all. Customers also complained about personal information being collected at the sites, while those who did get results said the documents contained inaccurate details.
The trend was first publicized last week by City Councilmember Julie Menin, who penned a letter last month asking the company to explain itself. Menin was followed days later by Attorney General Letitia James, who warned PacGenomics against making misleading claims.
Find out what's happening in Upper East Sidefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Now, PacGenomics's CEO has responded: Lian Liu owned up to some mistakes in a letter sent Saturday to Menin, which was shared with Patch.
In the letter, Liu said PacGenomics's website had been updated to reflect a one-to-five-day turnaround time, replacing the promised next-day results. The company is also creating a new patient portal that will simplify the results process, Liu said.
Find out what's happening in Upper East Sidefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Liu insisted that most New Yorkers' COVID tests had been completed within 24 to 48 hours after PacGenomics received the samples, though he said some results could not be delivered due to "their unrecognized handwriting onsite."
"I do understand your responsibility to your constituents. I do respect that," Liu wrote to Menin.
But in a response on Wednesday, Menin called Liu's letter "wholly and completely inadequate." Most constituent complaints had alleged turnaround times of more than a week, Menin said, meaning PacGenomics's one-to-five-day claim remained overly optimistic.
Menin also said Liu's letter failed to address the "collection of personal data," including being asked to turn over their IDs and scan a QR code.
"I expect that PacGenomics will address these matters immediately and answer my office accordingly," Menin wrote.
Previous coverage:
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
