~Premier Medical Laboratory Services to increase critical COVID-19 diagnostics access~
GREENVILLE, SC March 11, 2020 – Premier Medical Laboratory Services (PMLS), an industry leading diagnostic laboratory, announces their upcoming launch of Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing that will be available to hospitals and physician offices throughout the United States. Developed under CDC guidelines, PMLS’s COVID-19 test is undergoing FDA review for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to begin testing patient samples as soon as validation is completed within the coming days.
With this molecular diagnostic test, the presence of COVID-19 is detected through a nasal pharyngeal swab and results will be provided within 24 – 48 hours. Expedited detection of the virus will enable further efficiency in response time to employ the appropriate courses of action for containment of the virus.
According to recent statements by the FDA, rapid detection of COVID-19 cases in the United States requires wide availability of diagnostic testing to control the emergence of this rapidly spreading, severe illness.
“We want to help increase access to Coronavirus testing here in the US,” said Premier Medical Laboratory Services. “We take pride in our laboratory services being at the forefront of the most advanced technology and science available, providing cutting edge diagnostics to healthcare providers and their patients. Our team of scientists are working diligently to provide the utmost efficiency in COVID-19 testing so that the growing number of cases can be stabilized and the virus can be contained.”
Premier Medical Laboratory Services’ COVID-19 test will become a part of their already existing comprehensive respiratory pathogen test. Viruses and bacteria that can be accurately diagnosed with this testing include:
| Viruses Detected: Coronavirus COVID 19 (SARS-CoV-2) Coronavirus 229E Coronavirus HKU1 Coronavirus NL63 Coronavirus OC43 Enterovirus D68 Enterovirus PAN Metapneumovirus Parainfluenza Virus 1 Parainfluenza Virus 2 Parainfluenza Virus 3 Parainfluenza Virus 4 Influenza A PAN Influenza A H1 2009 Influenza A H3 Influenza B PAN | Adenovirus 1 Adenovirus 2 Respiratory Syncytial Virus B Rhinovirus 1 Herpes Virus 4 – Epstein-Barr Virus Herpes Virus 5 – Cytomegalovirus Herpes Virus 6 Respiratory Syncytial Virus A | Bacteria Tested: Bordetella bonchispetica, parapertussis, pertussis Bordetella pertussis Haemophilus influenzae Klebsiella pneumoniae Legionella pneumophila Mycoplasma pneumoniae Staphylococcus aureus Streptococcus pneumoniae Chlamydophila pneumoniae |
Benefits of respiratory virus detection
- Widespread use of precise respiratory virus detection has improved diagnostic accuracy
- Diagnostic testing has been linked to a more focused use of antimicrobials
- Testing may also help determine if viral infection is associated with bacterial coinfections
