UAB To Begin Coronavirus Testing Monday

BIRMINGHAM, AL—Birmingham-area hospitals and the Jefferson County Department of

Health announced Friday their first appointment-only community coronavirus testing site — the
Downtown COVID-19 Testing Site, which will begin seeing patients by appointment Monday at
9 a.m. The site is sponsored by UAB Medicine and the JCDH

"Today, we launched our testing for in-patients and employees at UAB and ER patients. On Monday, we will extend to off-site testing alongside the Jefferson County Health Department," UAB Clinical Operations Vice President Jordan DeMoss, M.S. said during a news conference.

Beginning Sunday, March 22, at noon, anyone in the community who believes they are suffering from COVID-19 symptoms can call 205-975-1881 to schedule an appointment.

The testing site will be located at the corner of University Boulevard and 22nd Avenue South.

"We know that a lot of people in the community have been asking about testing, and we're thankful to be able to offer this. We're looking forward to opening other test sites soon," Jefferson County Health Officer Mark Wilson, M.D. said.

Appointments will be scheduled from 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. seven days a week. Those who are given
appointments will be asked to arrive no more than 15 minutes before their scheduled
appointment time and to follow the detailed instructions located on-site.

“We are working hard as a community to bring more testing sites online as more laboratories,
including UAB’s testing lab, are able to offer the COVID-19 test,” said Mark Wilson, CEO of
the Jefferson County Health Department. “We appreciate the public’s patience as we work to
make this and other sites operational.”

The on-site instructions for the downtown testing site include:
• You must have an appointment to be tested.
• You must have a cell phone to communicate with staff as the testing site.
• Tune your radio to 90.7 FM for important testing instructions.
• Do not roll down your window until instructed to do so.
• Stay inside your vehicle.

Testing results from the downtown site should be available in 3-4 days. Anyone who is given an
appointment to be tested should remain self-quarantined until they receive their results and
maintain social distancing even if result of the test is negative.

Officials with the Jefferson County Department of Health said they are identifying other key locations in the county to potentially add additional sampling sites with local hospitals, laboratories and medical professionals in the next days and, possibly, weeks.

Across the country, health care workers are working around the clock to treat and test patients affected by COVID-19. In doing so, some of them have seen their medical supplies, such as face masks and gloves, dwindle as workers and patients use more protection to guard against the coronavirus.

During Friday's news conference, Laura Kowalczyk, J.D., MPH, vice president of UAB's supply chain and support services, addressed the growing problem medical facilities and hospitals are experiencing nationwide. Kowalczyk said her medical staff has, in fact, seen an interruption in the supply chain since at least January, in turn, forcing her team to be proactive in the conservation of materials.

"We work very closely with our clinical teams to make sure we are allotting the appropriate protective gear for those on the front lines. This is a daily process," she said. "Nationally, for all of us, there is a limitation of ventilators. We're doing our best to look at conservation and alternate channels."

UAB is not the only coronavirus testing site in the Birmingham area. These sites are also offering testing:

• Assurance Scientific Laboratories in Birmingham
• Urgent Care for Children in Birmingham
• Ross Bridge Medical Center in Hoover
• Ross Bridge Pediatrics in Hoover

Watch UAB's Friday news conference announcing upcoming coronavirus testing:

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