May 22, 2020

COVID-19 drive-thru test site changes announced

Posted May 22, 2020 4:18 PM

Beginning next week, there are changes to the drive-thru test site locations and hours of operation in El Dorado, Hutchinson, and Salina.

The drive-thru testing sites are now available to anyone who meets CDC and state and local guidelines on who should be tested, including first responders, health care providers and others with symptoms of COVID-19 and those in high risk groups without symptoms. Those interested in being tested need to visit www.DoINeedaCOVID19test.com to see if eligible for testing and to make an appointment. To be tested, individuals must have a scheduled appointment and be present in a vehicle.

The testing sites are supported by Walmart, eTrueNorth, and state and local officials. As of Friday, Walmart has 180 active test sites in 27 states that have tested more than 49,000 people. The sites use a self-administered nasal swab test with results from the test being received within three to five business days.

“The self-swab protocol for specimen collection is the FDA-approved, standard-of-care used widely across the country,” said Coral May, eTrueNorth’s CEO. “We have implemented a process whereby the entire self-swab is supervised by a pharmacist. While the individual is inside their vehicle, the pharmacist communicates with the individual regarding angle and positioning of the swab in the nose via both verbal instructions and step-by-step flash card. The key to the self-administrated nasal swab test is that the individual is being instructed, supervised and observed by a pharmacist.”

UPDATED COVID-19 testing for Salina

•Updated Schedule: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays weekly, 7–9 a.m.

•Note: The site will be closed for Memorial Day on Monday, but will open Tuesday from 7-9 a.m. and resume its regular schedule on Wednesday.

•New Location:  Salina Walmart Parking Lot: 2900 South Ninth Street

TESTING OVERVIEW

•This is a self-administered nasal swab test that is performed by the individual is in their vehicle.

•A trained pharmacist observes the self-administration of the specimen collection to ensure the sample is taken correctly, including counting out loud so the individual can hear to ensure the swab is in contact with nasal passage long enough to collect an appropriate sample.

•The nasal-swab specimen collection is the standard of care for COVID-19 testing across the country.

•Once specimens are collected at the drive-through testing sites, they are shipped to certified laboratories across the country for analysis.

•The specimens collected at these drive-through sites are analyzed on the gold standard of laboratory testing instruments.

•The testing method (RT-PCR) is approved by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and is used nationally. In short, the analysis is performed by high quality laboratories, and the results are accurate.

Additional testing information

•The sites are open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays weekly from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., weather permitting.

•NOTE:  The sites will be closed for Memorial Day on Monday, May 25, but will open Tuesday from 7-9 a.m. and resume their regular schedule on Wednesday.

•Testing is for adults who meet CDC and state and local guidelines on who should be tested, including first responders, health care providers and others with symptoms of COVID-19 and those in high risk groups without symptoms.

•Individuals must be 18 years and older.

•The testing site will require an appointment  through  eTrueNorth’s  online portal at  www.DoINeedaCOVID19test.com, or by calling the toll-free number at 800-635-8611.

•Once on site, those being tested will need to wear a mask and stay in their cars for verification of eligibility criteria, ID check and self-administered test. For the safety of all those on-site, the test site is not available to those who walk up.

•The site will use a self-administered nasal swab test that will allow those being tested to swab their own nose onsite while in their vehicles, observed by a trained Walmart pharmacist to ensure the sample is taken correctly, and drop the sealed sample into a container on their way out of the drive-thru site.

•eTrueNorth will handle processing test samples and communicating results to those tested and applicable departments of health.

•The sites will be staffed by Walmart pharmacists and associates.

•While individuals who are tested are awaiting results, please follow CDC guidelines and take steps to help prevent the virus from spreading to people in your home and community.