Sonoma County Government: Sonoma County Expands Testing Options, Shifts Focus To PCR Tests

Press release from the Sonoma County Government:

August 17, 2021

For Immediate Release CA

As part of this expansion, the Sonoma County Department of Health Services has partnered with Curative, LHI, Molecular Matrix, and Fox Home Health to provide testing, thereby increasing the County’s capacity from 1,000 tests per week to roughly 14,000 tests per week. These clinics operated by private companies will replace the pop-up testing clinics previously operated by the County’s Field Services team, which will now be freed up to respond to the need for testing at shelters, skilled nursing facilities and other facilities to prevent outbreaks.

This transition also has enabled the County to establish clinics in Cloverdale, Healdsburg, Sonoma, Boyes Hot Springs, Petaluma, Guerneville, Rohnert Park, and Cotati. Previously, the Department of Health Services clinics had only been offered within Santa Rosa.

This shift in operations is due to an increased public demand for testing. All providers reported administering tests beyond capacity in recent days. For example, LHI administered 749 tests at just four Sonoma County clinics from Aug. 3 to Aug. 6, which represented 41 percent over its capacity. 

As part of this transition to private testing, the Department of Health Services will no longer be providing rapid antigen tests. Previously, the County had offered rapid antigen tests, such as the BinaxNOW test, although all of those who have been tested were also required to take the more-sensitive PCR test. Going forward, only PCR tests will be provided.

“Rapid antigen tests, such as BinaxNOW, should not be given to those who do not have COVID-19 symptoms unless they are used more than one time per week in surveillance testing,” said Sonoma County Health Officer, Dr. Sundari Mase. “Using the tests incorrectly can cause false-negative results and allow people to believe they are COVID-safe when instead they are capable of spreading the virus."

For individuals with no symptoms who have had known exposure to COVID-19 or who have spent time in an area where exposure was possible, an appropriately timed PCR test “is the best way to determine COVID-19 status,” Dr. Mase said.

Because demand is so high, most providers also have either discontinued or limited walk-ins temporarily. Here is how each of the providers are currently handling walk-ins: 

For the most up-to-date information about COVID-19, including how to sign up, visit Testing and Tracing in Sonoma County. For those looking for a testing clinic at a specific time or location, see the <a>pop-up testing calendar.

Contact Information

County Administrator's Office County of Sonoma Accessibility Assistance Sonoma County COVID-19 Vaccine Information Suite 104A 38.464665, -122.725235 Google Maps™ Directions Sign Up for Press Release Updates Facebook Twitter

This press release was produced by the Sonoma County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.