What is coronavirus testing like, and where can you get it in Sedgwick County?

As Sedgwick County’s number of coronavirus cases rises — there are 11 confirmed cases as of Wednesday afternoon — testing is ramping up, too.

“People are really worried about, ‘Do I have it or do I not?’ ” said Julie Elder, chief medical officer of GraceMed, which began offering drive-through testing Monday.

That doesn’t mean you should be tested, though.

“We’re following the KDHE (Kansas Department of Health) guidelines on who might qualify for testing,” Elder said.

GraceMed is offering drive-through testing in Wichita on the north side of its administration building at 11th and Broadway.

“We have patients call ahead of time, and then we run them through our . . . nurse triage team just to make sure they qualify for testing,” Elder said.

There are a few main qualifications.

If someone has had close contact with anyone with a confirmed coronavirus case and then within 14 days developed a fever greater than 100 degrees or respiratory symptoms, such as coughing and shortness of breath, that person can be tested.

If someone has traveled outside of Kansas and gotten those same symptoms — fever greater than 100 and significant respiratory symptoms — within 14 days, that person can be tested.

If someone has those symptoms and has not traveled or been exposed through known cases, that person may qualify.

The first thing GraceMed does is take a patient’s temperature through a car window. Then the staff conducts a basic flu test. A patient must then remain in his vehicle with a mask on and the windows rolled up for 15 minutes.

“It’s a process,” Elder said. “If they have the flu, we don’t test any further.”

The clinic also has done some rapid strep testing.

If the flu test is negative, then a COVID-19 test is administered through a nasopharyngeal swab, which is then deposited into a vial with liquid to preserve it until it can be tested.

“It’s a pretty deep swab back into that nasopharynx,” Elder said.

That’s basically the upper throat.

Wednesday afternoon, a team of about four people in personal protective equipment — which also is in short supply — attended to patients as they drove up to GraceMed. A medical worker stood on a step stool to get a better angle when administering one swab.

Elder said most of the tests are coming back within 24 hours, although Quest Diagnostics — a private national firm that analyzes testing samples — has said to allow 72 hours.

Quest is administering the tests in other states and has a site in Lenexa as well. It is not administering tests to people in Wichita but is processing tests here for health care facilities such as GraceMed.

Test kits

Locally and nationally, there is a shortage of test kits.

GraceMed received some of its kits from Quest and some from KDHE. Some it already had in stock.

“These swabs can be used for other things, and they’re not specific to coronavirus,” Elder said. “It’s all in how you order it as to what you get back.”

There’s still no cure for the coronavirus, only supportive care or hospitalization in extreme cases, so why test for it?

“A lot of it really deals with the quarantine,” Elder said. She said it’s “ultimately to prevent spread of the virus.”

“It’s really important that people are aware and . . . take necessary measures to prevent further spread.”

She said that means anyone who tests positive must remain quarantined at home, and anyone in that person’s home must be quarantined as well and watch for symptoms.

“That’s very important,” Elder said.

There are various scenarios for quarantines, but general guidelines indicate they should last a minimum of 14 days.

Elder said KDHE will be in touch with everyone who tests positive and follow up with them to conduct at least two follow-up tests to assure patients continue to test negative.

GraceMed takes insurance for the testing, which varies according to the insurance. There’s a sliding fee scale for those without insurance.

The Sedgwick County Health Department also is conducting testing using the same KDHE criteria. Anyone wanting an appointment should call the United Way of the Plains triage line to be screened for potential testing. The number is 2-1-1, although some calls Wednesday afternoon did not go through because all circuits were busy.

A county spokeswoman said if callers meet the criteria, they will then be transferred to the Health Department. The department’s testing is free through a state lab.

Emergency rooms are not offering testing.

Some area physician clinics are offering testing only to current patients.

MedExpress Urgent Care at 3006 S. Seneca also is conducting testing as kits are available. Again, patients must meet KDHE criteria.

Sedgwick County is working to compile a list a testing sites through an interactive online map.

The county notes that most places advise against walk-in visits and to schedule appointments instead.

Look for more information on the map of testing sites as soon as it is available.

Contributing: Travis Heying of The Eagle

This story was originally published March 25, 2020 at 4:43 PM.