Summit Laboratory and COVID-19
Commitment: Summit Laboratory Inc is committed to help the Greater Los Angeles Area with any COVID-19 testing needs.
Looking for COVID-19 testing laboratory partner? We are here to help with any COVID-19 testing requirements. Feel free contacting us at any time for more details. (818) 697-0424. We are here for you.
Reliability: Summit Laboratory Inc uses in-house testing resources for quicker, more reliable and consistent results.
COVID Antigen testing – COVID antigen testing is performed as a Point of Care test as well as in our Core laboratories. The COVID antigen test detects presence of COVID virus by the detection of COVID antibodies in the sample. The sensitivity of this test is greater than 95%. This is an excellent test to screen individuals with fast turnaround times. Antigen testing specimens are obtained by Nasal or Nasal pharyngeal swab. Depending on the setting this is obtained by facility staff or by a TridentCare collector. “Self-collection” is also an option.
COVID Antigen testing with reflext to PCR – If the COVID antigen test described above is positive or if it is negative in an individual with strong COVID symptoms, the same sample can be used to perform a confirmatory test. This PCR test has increased sensitivity and eliminates interference from substances which may cause a false positive antigen test. Antigen testing specimens are obtained by Nasal or Nasal pharyngeal swab. If collected in Universal Transport Media, the same specimen can be used to verify the results of the antigen test.
COVID PCR (or Molecular) testing – The most sensitive and specific test. This test requires a sample to be collected and sent to one of our laboratories. While the turnaround time is 24 – 48 hours, the COVID PCR test is the gold standard and give the more definitive result. A nasal, nasopharyngeal or saliva specimen may be used. The Nasal or nasopharyngeal appears to be the most reliable. These specimens can be placed in Universal Transport Media or saline collection kits.
Post COVID-19 Care
The typical symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough, difficulty breathing and shortness of breath.1 Older adults and people who have underlying medical conditons, such as heart or lung disease or diabetes, seem to be at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19. While the following tests cannot be used to diagnose COVID-19, they can be very useful in connection with post-COVID-19 care:
Chest X-Ray – Determine normal vs. abnormal; baseline vs. disease management.
Chest/Lung Ultrasound – Evaluation for conditions such as pleural effusions, pneumonia and pneumothorax.
Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) Ultrasound – Determine the size of the IVC and evaluate for respiratory changes to monitor progress of disease. (e.g. pneumonia and elevated righ heart pressures.)
Endocardiogram – In addition to respiratory disease, COVID-19 patients can develop cardiovascular conditions.2 An echocardiogram can evaluate heart chamber size, evaluate left ventricular systolic wall motion and provide an ejection fraction. An echocardiogram can also evaluate for left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.
Hospitals are seeing the demand for emergency healthcare sevices quickly surpass their capacity. Vital imaging services are being delayed or canceled due to lack of resources or a fear of infection.3 These challenges could be mitigated with the help of a mobile imaging services provider that can fill the gaps and bring imaging and emergency diagnostic services to the community.
Best efforts should be made to image patients with infectious disease in their quarantine space.
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https//www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html. Last accessed 4/6/2020.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Interim Clinical Guidance for Management of Patients with Confirmed Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/clinical-guidance-management- patients.html. Last accessed 4/7/2020.
