On March 5, 2020, LabCorp announced that its LabCorp 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), NAA test will be available today, beginning at 6 p.m. ET, for ordering by physicians or other authorized healthcare providers anywhere in the U.S. For more information, please review the press release.
“We have been intensely focused on making testing for COVID-19 available as soon as possible, working with the government and others to address this public health crisis,” said Adam H. Schechter, president and CEO of LabCorp. “By expanding access to testing in the U.S., and preparing to support the development of vaccines and treatments for COVID-19 through our Covance Drug Development business, we are delivering on LabCorp’s mission to improve health and improve lives.”
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory disease caused by infection with a new form of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that has now been detected in multiple locations around the world, including the U.S.
On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern” (PHEIC). On January 31, 2020, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex M. Azar II declared a public health emergency (PHE) for the United States to aid the nation’s healthcare community in responding to COVID-19.
LabCorp’s focus is on the well-being and safety of our employees and patients, supporting business continuity for us and our customers, and assisting the global response. We are in close contact with public health authorities, and we will continue to monitor this situation and adjust our response as may be necessary or required.
On March 4, 2020, LabCorp joined with colleagues from the American Clinical Laboratory Association (ACLA) for a meeting with Vice President Pence and members of the White House’s Coronavirus Task Force. As an industry, clinical labs have taken steps to meet the growing demand for national testing and are part of a newly-formed consortium working together with the Administration, the CDC and FDA as well as state and local public health labs, hospitals and academic medical centers.
Important Information for Patients and Healthcare Providers related to testing for COVID-19:
- Effective on March 5, 2020 at 6 p.m. ET, physicians and other healthcare providers anywhere in the U.S. can order the LabCorp 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), NAA test. The test detects the presence of the underlying virus that causes COVID-19 and is for use with patients who meet current guidance for evaluation of infection with COVID-19, which is available here.
- LabCorp does not currently collect specimens for COVID-19 testing. Patients for whom testing has been ordered should not be sent to a LabCorp location to have a specimen collected.
- COVID-19 testing requires a nasopharyngeal (NP) swab in viral transport medium, bronchial washings or bronchoalveloar lavage (BAL) specimen, which are collected from the nose, throat or lungs, and must be collected by a healthcare provider.
- Patients who are concerned that they or a family member are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 should immediately contact their healthcare provider to determine their next steps.
- Individuals seeking testing for COVID-19 should not visit a LabCorp location to request a test. Tests must be ordered by a physician or other authorized healthcare provider.
- Healthcare providers should contact their local or state public health authority to obtain guidance on managing patients who may have COVID-19, and about how to access testing for those patients.
- LabCorp can collect, transport, process and test specimens, for lab tests other than COVID-19 from patients who are confirmed positive for, or are suspected of having, COVID-19.
- Please review the CDC website for the most-current information about COVID-19. State or local health authorities may also have information available.