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

NORRISTOWN, PA — Montgomery County said they "will explore using other labs" amid widespread complaints that coronavirus test results are significantly delayed.

Test results can take seven to 10 days to return, delays which Montgomery County Commissioner Val Arkoosh called "unacceptable," and attributed the delay largely to the increase of new cases across the country which have overwhelmed lab companies.

"This is a serious and very frustrating situation that is occurring across multiple lab companies," Arkoosh said.

Arkoosh said she spoke with Quest Diagnostics, who presently runs the county's testing services, and expressed the frustration relayed to her by local residents. Quest said they are working to purchase and install additional equipment to address the delays, but the county is still considering a change.

>>Where Coronavirus Has Increased In Montgomery County Since May

"If we're able to find another reliable vendor, we will consider switching labs," Arkoosh said.

However, she noted that nationwide surge in coronavirus cases was a formidable barrier no matter what.

"I believe Quest when they say one of their biggest challenges is the amount of testing that is happening around the country," she said. "This is a reminder of how we are all in this together. Actions of individuals, even all over the country, are negatively impacting us here in Montgomery County."

In Montgomery County, cases have either remained or slightly increased for weeks, after trending downwards for a time in June. The county has recorded 297 cases in the past week, compared to 222 during the seven day period prior to that.

Montgomery County presently has six community coronavirus testing sites, in Ardmore, Green Lane, Lansdale, Norristown, Pottstown, and Willow Grove. The Montgomery County Community College site, which operated off of a previous round of federal funding, closed weeks ago when that funding expired.

The county said there are no plans for another federally funded site in the area in the near future. Even if there were, it's likely that test results would still be delayed, due to the increase in cases and increase in testing demand.