BreatheMD started testing patients for COVID19 on March 13th, sending specimens to LabCorp for processing. LabCorp was the first company in the US to run the test for COVID19, and initially we were getting results in 4-6 days. As demand across the country has increased, LabCorp’s turn-around time has become longer and longer, and as of today, we are still waiting for results sent 11 days ago.
On March 24th, we chose to use a different lab, Microgen Diagnostics, to process our specimens. Microgen Dx is a lab in Lubbock, TX that specializes in DNA/PCR analysis of micro-organisms. It has been in business longer than any other micro-diagnostic company in the US (12 years) and has run over 400,000 tests on sputum, urine, wound and sinus specimens. Prior to the COVID outbreak, Dr. Bowden was using Microgen to test patients with chronic sinusitis, and it is the lab NASA uses in its research.
FAQs
Should I get tested?
Dr. Bowden is a proponent of testing for all. Knowledge is power and helps further contain the spread of the virus. Our saliva test method does not expose patients to additional harm. We currently do not have restrictions in place on who may get tested and welcome anyone who is concerned.
How do I schedule the test?
We are asking everyone to schedule on our website. The allows us to gather important information about your illness and exposure history and eliminates the need to handle credit cards at the time of your appointment.
How is the test performed?
When you arrive, you will call or text us and stay in your car. We will bring you a sterile cup and instruct you to cough vigorously and spit into the cup until you fill it to a certain point. When you are finished, we will bring a plastic bag for you to drop the cup into. The entire process takes 5 - 10 minutes.
How accurate is the test?
The national average for positive test results is 7-10%, and our results fall within this range. Because testing for this virus is so new, we don’t know the test’s true false negative rate. We believe Microgen is the best possible lab to run this test and are confident in the validity of the results. That being said, we have a handful of patients who have all the symptoms of COVID19 but come back with negative results. Our advice for these people has been to play it safe and to follow the CDC recommendations outlined below.
What do I do if my test is positive?
The current CDC recommendations are to stay isolated from others until fever-free for 72 hours, at least 7 days from onset of symptoms, and symptoms are improving. Retesting is no longer mandatory. People living in the same household do not need to be tested unless symptomatic. Everyone in the house should stay in the house for 14 days from the date of notification of positive results (City of Houston guidelines.) We are required by law to report all positive cases to the health department. The health department will call you and try to determine who else might have been exposed.
How many tests have you run and how many have been positive?
As of 3/29/20, we have submitted 281 specimens; of these, we have results on 163 patients, 12 have been positive (7%.) Unlike other testing facilities, we are not restricting testing to patients with the highest likelihood of being positive, hence we expect our % positive cases to be on the lower end of the normal range. 11 of the 12 positive cases have had symptoms and are stable or improving; only 1 patient has been completely asymptomatic and her only significant history was recent travel to NYC.
I think I had COVID and recovered. How do I confirm?
A serological test for COVID antibodies has been developed but is not yet available to private physicians. We will be offering this test to our patients as soon as it is available.