FAYETTEVILLE – March 18, 2020 – People who think they may have the coronavirus may want to get tested, but testing is not guaranteed nor always recommended.
Currently, there is no COVID-19 rapid testing method, nor is Cape Fear Valley Health’s laboratory able to test onsite for the virus.
As a result, the health system collects specimens from suspected coronavirus patients, which are sent to the N.C. State Laboratory of Public Health (NCSLPH) or LabCorp for testing, depending on the case.
Cape Fear Valley Health is following testing guidelines for this area. Testing criteria include:
- Patients with a fever OR cough and shortness of breath and who have had close contact with a known COVID-19 patient
- Patients with a fever AND cough, shortness of breath AND travel history to CDC-determined countries and U.S. areas with confirmed community transmission
The testing criteria is subject to change as test availability evolves.
Individuals experiencing mild symptoms with no confirmed contact with a COVID-19 patient and no history of travel to COVID-19 hotspots are unlikely to meet specimen collection criteria. They are encouraged instead to self-isolate and call their primary care provider for guidance.
Cape Fear Valley Health is continually preparing for the COVID-19 virus with the help of local, state and national officials to handle this rapidly changing situation.