NC widens coronavirus testing criteria

Supplies still limited, but testing no longer requires contact with a confirmed case.

Posted 12:01 a.m. Mar 13, 2020 — Updated 12:41 a.m. Mar 13, 2020

Travis Fain

, WRAL statehouse reporter

RALEIGH, N.C. — Public health officials have loosened coronavirus testing criteria in North Carolina, making the still-supply-limited tests available to more people as more testing facilities come on line.

Testing was previously limited to people who had close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case within the past 14 days. That requirement has been dropped.

Now, doctors can order the test for anyone who has a fever, lower respiratory symptoms and has already tested negative for the flu, state Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen said Thursday.

Those seeking the test are asked to call their doctor's office before visiting in person. The state has also set up a hotline on COVID-19: 866-462-3821.

The shortage of testing supplies has been a hurdle around the country. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top infectious disease expert at the National Institutes of Health, called it "a failing" Thursday in the nation's response to the viral outbreak.

North Carolina officials have complained of shortages for more than a week, and Gov. Roy Cooper said Thursday that the state never received materials promised by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "so we have begun working other avenues."

"We are doing everything we possibly can to make sure everyone who should get a test gets tested," Cooper said.

Cohen said the state lab has capacity to test about 700 people, but more partners have come online, including Atrium Health, Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. LabCorp, a private testing lab based in Burlington, said Thursday that it can do several thousand tests a day, nationally, and that its adding new equipment and staff.

Turnaround time is typically three to four days, a company spokeswoman said.

With more labs engaged, officials felt they could broaden the testing, Cohen said. The governor said that people who sought testing in recent days and were turned away may now be eligible.

It's unclear how often that's happened. State officials have not provided data on how many swabs – the samples collected at doctor's offices – have been collected but not tested, despite questions from the media.

They said Thursday morning that the state lab had completed tests on 67 people, with another 21 pending.

There are plenty of swabs, Cohen said, but a key supply further along in the testing process is "extremely limited."

Cooper said Thursday afternoon that the state is "making progress" on the issue.

"We are going to keep working at that until we fix it," he said.

As of Thursday evening, 17 people had tested positive for the virus in North Carolina, including eight in Wake County. So far, everyone who's tested positive has been able to remain at home, Cohen said. None are in the hospital, she said.

Cohen said the state plans to launch an online dashboard Friday providing daily updates on testing numbers.

Investigative reporter Tyler Dukes contributed to this report.

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