New drive-through COVID testing service in Sonoma
A SVHS grad brings testing to Sonoma
A familiar face is responsible for helping arrange for the newest testing option in Sonoma. Allison McKeany, in pink, serves as Director of Operations at ADX Healthcare, which is based in Bellingham, Washington. McKeany (Steffy-Thompson) grew up in Sonoma and graduated from SVHS in 2002. After high school, she received a B.S. in biological sciences from U.C. San Diego and a master’s in nutrition from San Diego State. She started her career in dietetics at Queen of the Valley and Sonoma Valley Hospital. Today, McKeany lives in Sonoma, working remotely for ADX. She heard about community testing ending in Sonoma and arranged with ADX to provide the service here.
ADX Healthcare launched a COVID drive-through testing facility in the Sonoma Community Center parking lot on Monday, Aug. 3. The testing site is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and is available for ages 2 and up.
The testing is open to all, no doctor’s referral or symptoms required. People make an appointment, register, and pay for the test ($149) online and then complete a supervised self-swab for sample collection at the drive-through.
Same-day, same-hour appointments are possible, based on availability.
The molecular testing uses a short swab for cells in the lower part of both nostrils, a process more comfortable but equally reliable to upper nasal passage testing, according to Allison McKeany of ADX. The testing is overseen by two medical assistants.
Drive-through times are spaced 10 minutes apart for a process that takes two minutes, so McKeany expects no backups in the Community Center parking lot. All patients must be in a vehicle and bring identification. McKeany said that if everything goes smoothly in the first few days, appointments may be spaced five minutes apart by the end of the week.
The active virus test is type RT-PCR, which fulfills pre-travel screening requirements for most destinations. Tests are shipped overnight to Northwest Laboratory in Bellingham, Washington.
Results are emailed and available online within 48 hours. Information is provided about how to request insurance reimbursement for testing costs.
ADX also provides business and organizations with on-site testing.
ADX is a private, physician owned healthcare company that, prior to COVID, focused almost entirely on Alzheimer and dementia genetic and diagnostic testing.
Learn more at covid19.adxhealthcare.com.
Sonoma Valley Community Health Center announced on July 27 that it would not resume open community COVID testing in the Sonoma Valley Hospital parking lot or at Altimira Middle School, the two locations where it had been taking place. Sonoma Valley Hospital is only offering testing for pre-surgery or symptomatic patients with a physician’s order. Call 935-5000 for more information.
Contact Lorna at lorna.sheridan@sonomanews.com.
A SVHS grad brings testing to Sonoma
A familiar face is responsible for helping arrange for the newest testing option in Sonoma. Allison McKeany, in pink, serves as Director of Operations at ADX Healthcare, which is based in Bellingham, Washington. McKeany (Steffy-Thompson) grew up in Sonoma and graduated from SVHS in 2002. After high school, she received a B.S. in biological sciences from U.C. San Diego and a master’s in nutrition from San Diego State. She started her career in dietetics at Queen of the Valley and Sonoma Valley Hospital. Today, McKeany lives in Sonoma, working remotely for ADX. She heard about community testing ending in Sonoma and arranged with ADX to provide the service here.
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