COVID-19 tests are being processed at UR Medicine’s Central Laboratory.

URMC Director of Clinical Microbiology Dr. Dwight Hardy spells out the testing and processing procedures.

“A specimen is collected with a swab, a swab that's inserted into the nasopharynx. This is specimen collection, it’s not testing, OK. That specimen then is placed into a transport vial. OK, and this is what we receive in the laboratory,” he said.

The process of examining the specimen and determining results takes place behind closed doors at the Central Lab.

“First step is to extract nucleic acid of the virus. OK and that's the first step. The second step after we've extracted nucleic acid, then with the next major step is nucleic acid amplification. PCR, you've heard of to detect the presence of the viral genome. And that's the actual testing that occurs in the laboratory,” said Dr. Hardy.

The lab expects to process about a hundred tests per day – but the problem is there’s a shortage of both specimen collection kits and reagents needed materials for the process there.

“Right now we're dealing with a shortage locally, regionally, nationally, around some of the materials that are necessary to process these coronavirus tests,” said Dr. Michael Mendoza, Monroe County commissioner of Public Health.

“I wish I could tell you that our lab is able to process Cova tests for anyone who wants one. Unfortunately, that's not the case, not in our lab or in a lab in the country,” said Dr. Michael Apostolakos, Strong Memorial Hospital chief medical officer.

So leaders are prioritizing the process of gathering test results. 

“People who are first responders, people who are in the health care field, individuals who are hospitalized, are a priority, because the result of a test for an individual who was hospitalized will potentially greatly change our management in the hospital,” said Mendoza.