Pima County to expand COVID-19 testing services

Pima County to expand COVID-19 testing services

PIMA COUNTY, Aug. 24, 2021 — Beginning Saturday, Aug. 28, Pima County will offer COVID-19 antigen testing services during expanded hours at the Abrams Public Health Center, 3950 S. Country Club Road.

The testing will be offered five days per week, Tuesday through Saturday, 1 - 8 p.m. It will be free of charge and available to everyone age 5 and older.

The antigen test uses a nasal swap method and typically produces results within 15 minutes. Test results will be given on-site. Those who receive negative results and are not experiencing COVID symptoms will be encouraged to get vaccinated if not already vaccinated.

Free vaccines are available on the third floor of the Abrams Center Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., as well as at various other locations throughout Pima County.

Those who test negative but are experiencing symptoms will be offered polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests to confirm that they are negative. The antigen test works by detecting proteins on the surface of the virus. While it has the advantage of producing fast results, it occasionally produces false negatives. PCR tests, which detect the virus’s genetic material, are used to rule out false negatives. These are highly accurate but typically take longer — usually a few days.

Those who receive either a positive antigen test or a positive PCR test will be advised to begin isolating immediately.

The testing services at the Abrams Center are expected to continue for several weeks, but are contingent on available funding.

The county’s expanded testing program coincides with limits imposed by the state on funding for testing. In a letter to federal lawmakers from County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry, the State of Arizona allocated to Pima County about $14.4 million, or about 3.4 percent, of $416 million in federal funds designated for epidemiology and lab services. Pima County has spent more than $49 million on COVID-19 testing since the beginning of the pandemic, said Huckelberry.

“The county recognizes the need to be able to provide free testing,” said Pima County Public Health Director Theresa Cullen. “We wanted to ensure, because of our commitment to equity, that testing is available to anyone.”