Northwest Laboratory in Bellingham now able to test for coronavirus, should speed tests
Whatcom County residents who are tested for COVID-19 will soon only have to wait 24 to 48 hours to hear their results, after a Bellingham laboratory was validated to begin running tests for the new coronavirus.
Northwest Laboratory announced in a Facebook post Saturday morning that it has successfully completed its validation on SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) RT-PCR testing.
After running validation samples on Friday night, March 27, the lab is now one of only three facilities in the state that has been validated, joining the Department of Health Public Health Lab in Shoreline and the University of Washington.
“I think what it means for people up here is, one, there will be quicker turnaround than people have been experiencing, and two, the availability of test kits will increase,” Northwest Laboratory Chief Operating Officer Jenny Bull told The Bellingham Herald.
Bull said some healthcare providers have been limited to 10 to 12 test kits and therefore have had to triage which patients to test. But with Northwest Laboratory now validated to run tests, more testing kits should soon be available in the area.
Northwest Laboratory will only be doing the testing of samples, Bull said. Sample collections must still come through a doctor or healthcare provider, and Bull said those wishing to be tested should not come to the laboratory or draw sites.
But, none the less, Bull said this could be big news for residents in Whatcom and Skagit counties, where most of the lab’s samples will likely come from.
The lab will initially be able to test approximately 1,000 samples per 24 hours, though Bull said she hopes that they’ll be running 2,000 tests per day by the end of the week.
“The key to this is getting social distancing between people and getting people tested so they know whether they need to isolate or not,” Bull said. “We’re excited to be able to support the community and get the testing out.”
While Bull said the lab will be working in conjunction with the Public Health Lab and the Washington State Department of Health, Northwest Laboratory will be working closely with the Whatcom County Health Department, the Skagit County Public Health Department, Lummi Public Health Department and PeaceHealth for the testing needs of this region.
Getting the lab validated took many long hours over the past few weeks, Bull said, but a recent decrease in the number of other types of tests requested helped create time to move through the process. Northwest Laboratory will use 14 Western Washington University grad students to assist with the testing.
