High demand for coronavirus tests is making test results take longer and at times forcing the Hamilton County Health Department to turn people away from its drive-thru testing site, according to the county’s top public health official.
Becky Barnes, Hamilton County Health Department administrator, said it’s now taking on average four to six days to get COVID-19 test results in the county, whereas it had been taking 48 to 72 hours.
“Many laboratories in the state are experiencing an increase in turnaround time at the laboratory level, leading to longer times between specimens being collected and results being reported to us and the state,” Barnes said via email Friday.
She also cited issues with demand for testing at the county’s Alstom testing site, 1125 Riverfront Parkway.
“There have been days just recently when we had to stop any additions to the Alstom testing line because cars were backed up too far in the road,” she said.