Family-owned medical lab in Cary helps fill demand for COVID-19 testing

Aspirar Health has tables set up outside its locations in Cary and Durham where people can go after-hours on Sunday through Thursday to do their own COVID test. The lab runs the tests first thing the next morning at 9.

"It could take upwards of four to five hours just to have one test completed," said Shiyu Jing, molecular lab supervisor for Aspirar Health.

Tests conducted at Aspirar Health have a turn around time of about 16 hours.

To keep up with the surge in demand for testing, Aspirar Health CEO Pick Chay said they added a third shift in the lab and hired 14 people in the last 10 days.

"We try to pivot our operations, our business, and our focus to try to serve our community in terms of COVID testing capacity and need," Chay said.

They plan to hire even more workers to collect and process tests. The lab, which previously focused on toxicology testing, has pivoted to COVID-19 testing which now makes up 70% of all its tests.

"At times it’s been chaotic and a nightmare, because of the short of supply, the short of resources," said Shiyu Jing, molecular lab supervisor for Aspirar Health. "It wasn’t anything unique to see days or specific plates that had 40%, 50% positive rates."

Jing sees his science as a necessary service to keep people safe through this latest pandemic surge.

"Each scientist can probably work nine to 10 hours a day and be very comfortable," he said. "Every step is done right, everything is double checked and nobody’s that tired at the end of the day.

These 24-hour self-service tests are available Sunday through Thursday at Aspirar's locations in Cary and Durham while supplies last:

Aspirar Health will either bill your insurance or will give you a test for free if you don't have insurance.