COVID testing underway for some

Posted by Rich Schwartzman on May 9, 2020

A nurse draws blood for a COVID-19 antibodies test at a drive-up facility at Longwood Gardens. The testing is for medical personnel, first responders and their families.

On a sunny but unseasonably cold Saturday in May, Chester County officials began testing medical personnel and first responders for COVID-19 at Longwood Gardens. With temperatures lingering in the mid-30s on May 9, county officials were hoping to test 1,000 medical personnel and first responders for the virus.

Tents were set up in the parking area of Longwood's property across Route 1 from the gardens. There, nurses used pin-prick blood draws to test for the virus itself or antibodies. Antibodies indicate the person was exposed to the Coronavirus, but their immune systems fought it off.

Chester County Commissioners' Chairwomen Marian Moskowitz addresses reporters during a May 9 press conference regarding the testing for COVID-19 antibodies.

Those tested get their results online within 24 hours. During a trial run on Friday, May 8, 1,000 people were tested, and 4 percent of the tests came back positive for the antibodies.

Chester County Commissioners' Chairwoman Marian Moskowitz said the intent is to test 1,000 people per day between the Longwood testing area and another four in South Coatesville so that Chester county can move to reopen more quickly. Based on the state's color-coding, Chester County, like the other counties in the eastern part of the state, is in the red zone and subject to Gov. Tom Wolf's business lockdown decree of March 19.

She said during a press conference that the county purchased 10,000 test kits — manufactured by Chester County-based Advaite — so far and is having the tests run by a private lab, Lehigh Valley Genomics, adding that the county had to overcome regulatory restrictions from the state.

In a press release issued before the conference, Moskowitz said, "We have been investigating every option open to us to try and get ahead of the Coronavirus, and we know that determining who has developed antibodies will be extremely useful in helping us make informed decisions on the way to physical, emotional and economic recovery…But permission to actually conduct the testing met with roadblocks from the Pennsylvania Department of Health because of regulatory issues. So instead of channeling our efforts into getting the tests up and running, we have had to focus our energy on overcoming the red tape."

Cars are lined up at one of the six Longwood Garden tent stations used to test for COVID-19 antibodies.

She thanked state Sen. Andy Dinniman for his help.

Fellow Commissioner Michelle Kichline said, "If this provides us with results we are expecting, we hope to be able to expand antibody testing to additional priority level tiers, to help us manage this crisis. It also will give us more information as we plan and prepare for the safe reopening of Chester County."

Testing is by appointment and limited to medical personnel, first responders, and their families.

Tracey Vitale, a nurse at CHOP in Kennett Square, was one of the people tested Saturday. She said the pin-prick was painless, and she's satisfied with getting the results within a day.

While commissioners said the testing could help alleviate the stress that medical personnel might be feeling, Vitale said she's not sure about that. "We really don't know what the test will mean. It's a good start, but hygiene and wearing masks mean more."

About Rich Schwartzman

Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.