KSHB: COVID-19 testing availability adjusts with CDC guidelines

“The criteria of what we are using to test is typically on what your risk factors are for if you were to develop severe disease,” Dr. Marc Larsen, Operations Section Chief, Saint Luke's Incident Management.

People who have coronavirus symptoms and work in the health care setting, are first responders, immune-compromised or have known or confirmed exposure to patients with COVID-19 are likely to be given tests.

“Those people have potentially worse outcomes,” Larsen said. “[We want to] identify that earlier so when people do come into the hospital and are admitted, we are already prepared and know who those people are so we can isolate them or start treatment on them a little sooner than later.”

Saint Luke's main goal is to help treat patients while preventing the spread of the virus.