PITTSBURGH — Coronavirus testing is getting underway at a UPMC Mercy Hospital on Pittsburgh’s South Side Tuesday.
This comes after more cases of the illness were confirmed in Allegheny County and UPMC said it was developing its own test.
Over the weekend, Channel 11 got an inside look at where patients were being tested. Doctors said they will be able to test 20 patients initially, but that should ramp up to 100. In order to get a test, patients must have symptoms and they must have a doctor’s order. Walk-ins will not be accepted.
Patients will enter, sanitize their hands, put on a mask, and they’ll be directed to an exam room where doctors and nurses will administer the test.
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“The goal was to get this right, get it safe and then eventually to scale up. I’m certain that we will look at other opportunities,” said Dr. Donald Yealy.
The tests will take place in isolated exam rooms with a special feature.
“These used to be emergency department rooms. The air is drawn up and filtered before it gets released anywhere else. That provides a layer of safety during the sampling procedure,” Dr. Yealy said.
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