Eglin cuts COVID-19 testing to 70m

EGLIN AFB, Fla. - The 96th Medical Group has obtained the ability to test for COVID-19 in house at its laboratory at Eglin in early April. Lab tech brought the novel coronavirus test kits on-line April 10 to begin in-house testing for area Defense Department beneficiaries. With this newly acquired capability, the laboratory has cut two-day processing time results to about 70 minutes. Prior to early April, COVID-19 tests were sent to Wright Patterson AFB in Ohio, and it took 48 to 72 hours to get results. The Eglin lab only tests COVID-19 samples of patients being admitted to the local base hospital. All other coronavirus tests for symptomatic patients are still sent to the Wright Patterson. To date, lab techs have tested about 2 percent of the area’s military population to include dependents and retirees. Testing is vital to contact tracing, isolation and quarantine to protect the community. (Source: Eglin AFB 05/11/20) https://www.eglin.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2180410/eglin-lab-begins-covid-19-testing/