Wait times for COVID test results from Tarrant County College sites expected to improve
The company running COVID tests at Tarrant County College sites hopes to improve its turnaround times by next week, according to county Public Health Director Vinny Taneja.
Some people who took tests at the locations have complained on social media about waiting up to eight days for results.
Taneja told the Star-Telegram on Tuesday that he did not know the average wait time for tests at the TCC sites, run by Dallas-based Gene IQ. Gene IQ CEO Frank Howard did not immediately return a phone call for comment.
Other labs reporting data to the county have results in 24 to 48 hours. Another lab used by the county is reporting delays of three to four days, Taneja said.
Just like in past surges, the labs have been affected by worker shortages, which was part of TCC’s issue, Taneja said.
Meanwhile, COVID cases continue to increase across Tarrant County. Four in 10 COVID tests are coming back positive, Taneja said. The number of infections coming from a single case — known as the R0 — is at 2.1.
Residents have the resources needed to curb the virus’ spread, Taneja said. He made a comparison to the way people dressed for the recent cold snap after the warm Christmas weather.
“Did we all decide we were going to run around in T-shirts and shorts like nothing has changed? No, we put on our jackets, we put our sweatshirts on, had a hat on, some people put out their gloves,” Taneja said. “We layered our protection. OK, well, there’s a COVID surge on, let’s layer our protection. Do all of these things together while the surge is on.”
