Newport Lab Aims For 1,000 Coronavirus Tests Per Day

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — An Orange County lab is aiming to test 1,000 samples of coronavirus tests a day, Patch was told. Pangea Laboratory, LLC, a clinical testing facility in Newport Beach, says that their SARS-CoV-2 testing service is validated for both throat swabs and sputum specimens, and test results are available within 24 hours of sample arrival.

The company has invested in increased testing capacity in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Their high testing volume adheres to the company's mission-driven team and strategic partnerships with local businesses to secure its supply chain.

California ranks 39th out of 50 states for the number of tests conducted per capita according to an analysis of state testing data by Vox.

Additionally, California has an estimated 64 percent of COVID-19 tests that remain unprocessed. In Orange County, the Health Care Agency has told Patch that there is no backlog of tests.

Lack of available testing and delayed test results are continued obstacles in overcoming the coronavirus outbreak, as decisions surrounding when to reopen businesses and lift social restrictions rely on accurate case counts and infection monitoring.

“We want COVID-19 testing and results to be accessible to more people. Fast, accurate testing is critical to this fight on multiple levels, as the virus is highly contagious but may also be asymptomatic. Screening remains, and will remain for some time, an important aspect of protecting high risk vulnerable populations, such as immunocompromised and elderly individuals. Our team is committed to doing our part to protect the health of our local communities and our country,” said Dr. Yap Ching Chew, chief operating officer at Pangea Laboratory. “Strategic partnerships with local biotech companies, such as Zymo Research and others, have played a key role in galvanizing our testing capacity, as our reagent supply chain remains secure and allows for future expansion.”

Pangea’s COVID-19 tests have been utilized by first responders, frontline workers, hospitals, and essential local businesses in California. Pangea Laboratory’s CAP-accredited and CLIA-certified lab will also alleviate the current testing backlogs by allowing for the processing of overflow samples from other labs. Pangea is now working on increasing its testing capacity.

California first responders and healthcare providers seeking Pangea’s testing kits and processing services can contact the company at info@pangealab.com or 1-949-346-9393.

California residents who believe they have COVID-19 symptoms can contact their local healthcare provider and ask them to submit a request for testing on Pangea Laboratory’s website, they said.

As of Tuesday morning, Orange County has over 1,600 residents infected with coronavirus. A total of 33 people have died as a result of the disease. Out of the 3.2 million residents in the county a mere 18,000 have currently been tested.

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