After receiving complaints for weeks about the lack of ability to get tested for the Coronavirus or the delays test processing, the Oklahoma State Health Department announced a public private partnership Friday that will allow for broader and more expedited testing.
Oklahoma is collaborating with Diagnostic Labs of Oklahoma (DLO) to increase capacity. This partnership resulted in more than 300 test specimens being shipped to DLO's facility in Dallas, Texas for analysis. Results are expected in a few days.
"As this new public-private lab partnership expands Oklahoma's capacity to deliver timely results, it will allow the OSDH, county health departments, hospitals, health care providers and others begin pursuing innovative options for increasing access to COVID-19 testing," said Gary Cox, Commissioner of Health.
In a release, the department said the new partnership will laow current demand for COVID-19 tests to be met within two or three days. However, it says the Public Health Laboratory will continue to prioritize its limited in-house supply for delivering results within 24 hours for Oklahoma's most vulnerable populations including clusters of people who are experiencing symptoms, such as nursing homes; individuals aged 60 and older and children or adults with compromised immune systems.
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