New Lab 'Obligated' To Get Montco COVID Test Results In 36 Hours

NORRISTOWN, PA — As residents in Montgomery County have dealt with testing delays of up to several weeks, local officials have finalized an agreement with a new laboratory in an effort to drastically speed up the turnaround time on results.

Sometime in the next week, the county will begin sending coronavirus tests from their six community sites to Mako Medical, a North Carolina based diagnostic laboratory. The county said that Mako is required to return test results within 36 hours.

The issue of slow returns on testing has plagued Montgomery County for some time, with some waiting more than three weeks for results to come back, while also slowing and complicating various reopening plans.

Mako has a partnership with The Physicians Integrated Network (TPIN), a group of 750 physicians in the region which will help them expedite testing and results.

“A constituent received her results 14 days after testing, rendering those results completely worthless," said State Rep. Todd Stephens, who has worked with Mako, TPIN, and the county to expand testing. "Having results within 36 hours will help keep our families safe by reducing community spread of this contagious disease."

The Montgomery County tests will be flown by private plane to North Carolina. The 36-hour turnaround time is not just an estimate; it's a contractual obligation between the county and Mako.

“Expanded and timely testing will help our public health officials monitor local infection rates and prevent further outbreaks by notifying infectious patients and getting them to self-quarantine," said Dr. Scott Shapiro, TPIN's chief strategic officer. "Patients who are now quarantining for up to a week will resume their normal activities without fear of contaminating their peers."

The testing delay has also been a challenge which Montgomery County school districts have had to consider when determining whether to allow in-person instruction this fall, and for families who need to show a positive test for their children to participate in activities or sports.

>>'Unacceptable' Delay In Montco Test Results Due To Rise In Cases

"This is a serious and very frustrating situation that is occurring across multiple lab companies," Montgomery County Commissioner Val Arkoosh said at the time, noting that a rise in coronavirus cases in other parts of the country, as well as a general increase in demand for testing, had led to the backup.

Officials do not know the exact day when test will first be shipped to Mako, but clarified that it will be within the coming week.