PHOENIX, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- With more than 130,000 positive COVID-19 cases in Maricopa County, local health officials are closely tracking infection rates to determine when local schools and businesses can safely reopen. To slow community spread and support safe reopening for local schools and businesses, GMED Global, LLC, today announced the opening of its first rapid COVID-19 testing operation in Maricopa County on Wednesday, August 26. GMED's Rapid COVID Clinic will operate the newest drive-through testing facility in Old Town Scottsdale at 6940 E Indian School Road. COVID testing is available by appointment or for drop-ins, with results provided the same day.
This unique test, manufactured by Quidel, is one of the few rapid antigen tests in the country. It has recently been approved for use by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and has been deployed to allow point-of-care testing in nursing homes in the State of Maryland. The test includes a pain-free nasal swab that can be self-administered - minimizing the exposure between test takers and health care providers. This highly accurate test directly detects the presence of COVID-19 and test results are returned electronically in about one hour.
"We've noted that people under the age of 45 years old comprise 63% of all COVID-19 infections in Maricopa County, meaning young and otherwise healthy people are at risk and are often unknowingly exposing others in the community," said Dr. Ramin Ahmadi, Co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of GMED. "By opening this test site in Old Town Scottsdale, we're offering the residents of Maricopa County access to fast, anxiety-free, and highly efficient COVID tests. Through aggressive testing efforts, we can slow the spread of the novel coronavirus in Arizona's largest county, and cast a wider net to capture the data that's required to support the safe reopening of local schools and businesses."
In addition to confirming the virus in both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals, negative test results can be used by college students moving back to campus, employees returning to work, and people traveling to restricted areas that require a negative COVID test. GMED also offers on-site COVID-19 screening to area businesses, federal health clinics, and schools.
The test does not require a doctor's referral. Individuals can schedule an online appointment or drive to the testing site. The cost is $150 per test and is payable on-site. For more information about testing locations, rules, procedures, and hours of operation, or to schedule an appointment visit http://www.rapidcovidclinic.com.
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SOURCE GMED Global
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