Social media pages and some local officials’ in-boxes have been inundated by Flagler County residents complaining of not getting their Covid-19 test results. Public health officials today explained why: a lab AdventHealth was using in Texas has been overrun, causing delays.
“I’ve got messages from tons of residents, I’ve heard about some delays and issues with Texas, but not a ton of details,” Palm Coast Mayor Milissa Holland said this afternoon, referring to the lab where tests were processed.
“AdventHealth stopped using their lab in Texas on Sunday, they began using Diagnostic Solutions on Monday, thank God,” Flagler Health Department Chief Bob Snyder said late this afternoon, shortly after a conversation with Wally de Aquino, the chief operating officer at AdventHealth Palm Coast, who explained the situation to him. “They had concerns and they recognized a problem with the labs that they were using in Texas, for a two week period or a three week period.”
Diagnostic Solutions is a Palm Coast-based company that has teamed up with local health officials and Palm Coast to put its Georgia-based labs at Flagler’s disposal. Diagnostic Solutions produces results within a 48-hour window.
The testing affected by the Texas labs was taking place at the drive-up location set up at the Palm Coast campus of Daytona State College, run by county and health department staff and volunteers for a couple of weeks before AdventHealth took it over in large part. It is relinquishing control of that site back to the county starting next week. Testing there was conducted through so-called spit-tests, with those being tested giving samples of spit in a cup. The tests differ from pharyngeal tests conducted by taking a swab of the back of the throat, and from nasal swabs that go deep into the nasal cavity.
“Nasal is the most sensitive, followed by oral, followed by the spit,” Snyder said. “We stick with the nasal and we stick with the oral.” (The Health Department conducts Covid-19 testing at its facility on Dr. Carter Boulevard in Bunnell.)
The delays in testing results mean that the posted numbers at the Department of Health for Flagler, which have shown a significant decrease in positive results, may be skewing the numbers one way or the other.
“Today is day 15 since I had my COVID test at the DBCC drive through on 4/29,” one resident posted on Thursday in the Seminole Woods neighborhood group. “I went the same day,” another resident wrote, “got a text saying that it was delayed because of testing shortage and I would get a text with results… still nothing.. was also told that we would be able to see results in the app… nothing there.. I need something for work proving I had a test done.. not cool if they aren’t gonna give some kind of proof with a result.”
“I know 3 people who got tested 4/29 and still no results,” another wrote, and yet another: “My first test I took on 4/24 and came back positive, I took a test on 4/29 and still have no results. I took a 24 hour test on 5/5 and I still came back positive. Doesn’t matter if your positive or negative, results are taking long no matter what.”
Flagler County Emergency Management Chief Jonathan Lord had also been hearing of residents’ issues. “Folks keep asking us how to get the results. At this point in time, AdventHealth controls those results, has access to the results,” Lord said. “The EOC never has access to individual testing results, because we’re not medical professionals. That’s not the world we’d have the right to be in. But for those that did participate in the Advent one, we’re trying to get an update. You can call their virus line directly, which is 877-VIRUSHQ,” or 877-847-8747.
The Health Department’s Gretchen Smith said she will be heading teams that will call all the people who test negative starting next week, “making sure that everyone who does get tested and tests negative gets called in a timely manner,” Smith said.
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Unbelievable! says
I don’t understand this. I’m a first responder and I was tested on May 1st because I was having symptoms. They said I would have the results in 3-5 days. I WAS HAVING SYMPTOMS! I went to DBCC waited in line and yet today…. The 15th… No results!!! What if I have/had Covid-19??? I’ve been going to work, going to stores, and been to the beach. Thanks Advent Health and Flagler County for setting up useless Covid-19 testing centers!!
Joaquim DeMiranda says
My husband had hes test done on 5/4 on advent health center care on Palm Coast parkway still no results I got the bill but no results so what happens know when do we get hes results where is hes test
Greg says
My wife also tested on 4/29 and has not received results back. To make things worse, she is a nurse and can not work till she is cleared by the results. Three weeks now with no pay. I have contracted Advent almost every day and all I hear, it’s in process, please be patient. My patience has worn out. Next week will be 4 weeks with no pay. They don’t care. Pissed off.
Eli says
What Advent health failed to mention is they messed up a total of 25,000 test results using a third party.
lou says
We had been misguided by authorities by making us believing that ” getting tested” means that.
Actually what authorities called “test” was just taking a sample for the tests.
We must hold accountable for their intentional miss communications.
WhackAMole says
Wonder how many more convenient backlogged tests there are that keep the numbers at a nice 600-900 per day. I trust no one…I run away from Republicans.
Land of no blinketsnket says
I went on 4/30 and have been given the run around since then…finally told the samples were either destroyed or contaminated! Called every singleday, no calls back, etc. Advent health lied and cheats and kills people!
No kidding says
That’s why the published numbers make no sense. There are never more than 5 or 6 people “awaiting results” on the official FL Dept of Health/Flagler Public Information Officer figures. Given that the test results are taking between 7 days and never, somebody’s gotta do the math for me as to how these are reliable statistics.
Carmine Pantuso says
What we need in Flagler County is one central location for testing that is open 6 days a week. The location has to be safe for the people getting tested and the people administering the tests, the results need to be from lab that can give us a 24 to 48 hour turn around you can also do antibodi testing once or twice a week. The last thing we need is for people that are infected going to a CVS, Walmart or even a Labcorp to be tested. This can be coordinated with Advent Health and Flagler County and no one being tested should receive a bill. (it’s been reported that Advent Health is billing people $300 for the test)
Jimbo99 says
The reality is the test kits are inaccurate. Like most things healthcare they are doing it on the cheapest, most profitable way. No sense of urgency here. You’re not going anywhere & it’s not like they have a cure anyway. If you’re feeling symptoms of something, that could be anything, it’s most likely something else that has ever passed. It’s Spring still, allergies are going to produce symptoms that may coincide, Take a warm shower or take a nap, that’s 1/2 the battle in life.
Susan says
I also got tested on 4/29 and no results back. Can I go get tested again somewhere or will those results be coming from AdventHealth soon?
Scary with this being the Hospital here in Palm Coast. What does that say about that hospital? Can it be trusted????
Flatsflyer says
Know of one situation, my daughter took all her employees to a test site in Port Orange. She paid $59 each for employee’s test. As she had her own insurance her insurance company BC&BS was billed $249 for her individual test? Results where mixed and eventually determined to be invalid. Next they went to DSC and now it’s been 18 days with no results. Appears to me that the testing has been a scam by money grubbing outfits without any government oversight or concern. Maybe Alex Jones and his coharts was right after all?
Greg says
Advent health should be ashamed. You are causing more harm to people who are suffering. You make them stay confined three more weeks, and some to not to be able to work. So much fir a caring health partner.
TR says
Still two people in this house waiting for results from 05/05/2020.
But yet the Observer posted last week that there is no one waiting for test results
in Flagler County. Is there anyone during this pandemic you can trust for accurate info?
marlee says
Trump insisted “anybody that needs a test to detect coronavirus gets a test. The test is beautiful.”
Michele Schaeffer says
I was tested with the spit test at Daytona State College on April 30. Still waiting. No text. No mail, as promised. I’ve called at least 5 times. was told at first a Supervisor of some sort would call back. 3 times on that. No return call. It’s a mess. Now I don’t even trust the results even if I got any. I’m just going to get tested again. A big waste of time and resources.
Terrie says
I tested on 5/1 and no results. I need to go out of state to check on family but I’m afraid to. Would we have heard by now if we tested positive, or are our specimens still sitting untouched. Does anyone know?
TR says
There are two people in this household still waiting results from 05/05/2020.
Funny how last week the Observer newspaper posted that there were no on waiting for test results in Flagler
County. Guess someone didn’t do their investigating properly.
Alycia says
My husband has been contacting them every day since his test on 5/5. They just responded that they can’t process the tests so he’ll never receive a result.
Ben Yeargan says
I just received a reply from Advent Health saying that I would not be receiving my results. How many thousands of tests are they throwing away?! This is insane. Richest country on earth!
Christine Blue says
I’ve tested twice, Bob Hayes legend center, Duval county
Latest test, 12/28 with no results.
I’m a 2x kidney transplant survivor.