Rapid COVID-19 Testing Now Available

Sandstone Care Partners with Abbott to Offer Rapid COVID-19 Testing for Clients with Abbott ID NOW Technology

At Sandstone Care, our focus on the health and safety of our clients, staff, and community is more important than ever. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a new standard to everyday patient care practices as well as the use of technology to improve infectious disease control protocols. The ID NOW rapid COVID-19 test allows our inpatient facilities to test clients at admission for the virus and receive the results in 13 minutes or less. At this time, Sandstone Care is one of the first treatment providers in the nation to utilize this PCR testing technology. For clients entering inpatient treatment at Sandstone Care, a COVID-19 test will be performed the day you arrive at the facility, and after a negative result comes back from your rapid test, the admission process will proceed as normal.

How Does it Work?

Abbott’s ID NOW testing technology has been utilized by point-of-care medical facilities since its introduction in 2014. The portable and efficient machines have been used to test for various health conditions prior to the coronavirus pandemic and have now been configured to return accurate COVID-19 test results. Watch Abbott’s informational video to learn more about the innovation behind ID NOW COVID-19 testing.

Using isothermal technology, enzymes and constant temperature control, ID NOW testing machines can gather even the smallest trace of the virus and amplify it to a detectable level. Consistent with the universal COVID-19 lab testing procedures, an upper respiratory tract swab is used to collect a sample for testing. Next, the sample is mixed directly with the proprietary solution within the ID NOW machine, which breaks open the virus and exposes its genetic material. Reagents recognize a unique section of the coronavirus genome and can replicate the genome from a few target molecules up to hundreds of millions, making the virus detectable. Finally, you will get the test results – all within 13 minutes. The complex molecular system makes testing easier, faster, and more accessible to all.

According to John Hackett Jr., Ph.D., Divisional VP of Applied Research and Technology for Abbott’s Diagnostics business, “ID NOW is at the forefront of molecular testing technology because of the isothermal process by which the virus is quickly extracted and magnified at a constant temperature. This technology is so important when testing in hotspots and in ‘de-centralized’ healthcare settings, where sometimes the lab isn’t an option.”

Read the infographic below to learn more, or check out the full article “How ID NOW Tackles COVID-19.”

Treatment Programs Available at Sandstone Care

Sandstone Care offers a full continuum of care with locations in Colorado, Virginia, and Maryland. If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse and mental health and would benefit from our state-of-the-art treatment services, Sandstone Care can help. Please do not hesitate to reach out to our admissions team 7 days a week at (855) 958-5511.

Did You Know? 

Sandstone Care offers online addiction and mental health treatment. Our Virtual IOP program offers the same programming we offer in person, all online – ideal for those who live too far to drive in, have transportation issues, or health concerns that make in-person treatment challenging. Click here to learn more.