Drive-thru testing for the coronavirus is available in Aliquippa at Central Outreach Wellness Center.

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ALIQUIPPA — Beaver County residents showing symptoms of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, have a local option for testing.

Central Outreach Wellness Center saw more than 55 people Monday at its Beaver County location at 2360 Hospital Drive in Aliquippa.

The center, in partnership with Quest Diagnostics, was given 100 COVID-19 testing kits throughout its three locations and started Monday conducting drive-thru testing.

Those who are showing symptoms of COVID-19 can visit Center Outreach for a drive-thru test, which involves screening questions, a consent form, and questions about medical and travel history.

Patients drive up to the facility and answer the above screening questions. If the physicians believe they ought to be screened for the virus, medical professional conduct testing right in the patient’s car.

The center conducts two forms of testing.

The first and preferred method is a nasopharyngeal swab, which is a thin, flexible, Q-tip-like device that is inserted through a patient’s nose, into their nasal cavity and to the back of their throat.

The second is a sputum culture that requires the patient to cough up mucus. While the nasopharyngeal swabs are in short supply, Center Outreach founder Dr. Stacy Lane said the center was able to conduct further testing by utilizing the sputum culture method.

For both methods, tests are sent off to Quest Diagnostics and results are available within three to four days.

But not all folks who visit the center are guaranteed to be tested for the novel coronavirus. In fact, of the 55-plus individuals who arrived at the center Monday, only five tests were collected.

"Not everyone who comes over here is going to get a test," said Alex Tatangelo, CRNP with Central Outreach.

Testing kits are in short supply, Tatangelo said, meaning the center is being selective with who they test.

Center Outreach will prioritize older adults over age 70, those on an immune-suppressant medication, and others who are considered high priority, including those having severe shortness of breath that inhibits normal activity.

"Our goal is to see people who are having symptoms, and we decide whether it’s a good idea for them to go to the emergency department for evaluation or to get tested for coronavirus," Tatangelo said.

In offering the drive-thru testing, Center Outreach hopes to flatten the curve.

"This will help alleviate hysteria of people who think they have coronavirus and are clogging up emergency departments," Tatangelo said. "That really is what our goal is."

"We’re telling people if you’re young and otherwise healthy and not having shortness of breath or excessive symptoms, hunker down and stay home and avoid being in public for 14 days after the onset of your symptoms," he said.

Tatangelo said he hopes the drive-thru testing is also "an opportunity to do some teaching," he said. "Teaching people how to appropriately cover their cough, stay clean ... mitigating risks."

Although UPMC is able to test for the virus, Lane said they require referrals from a primary care physician. Center Outreach does not require a referral, and you don’t have to be one of its patients to receive testing.

"The problem we see with that is many don’t have a primary care doctor. So for us, we sort of want to take all-comers," Lane said. "We’re only screening about 1/2 or 1/3 of those even asking to be screened. But we can see everybody."

Testing is available during Center Outreach’s normal hours. As of Monday afternoon, they ran out of tests, but Lane said they will hopefully get more Tuesday.

"But we’re not guaranteed to," she said.

Lane asks folks to check the center’s Facebook page and website regularly or call ahead to see if testing is available.