Drive-thru Coronavirus Testing Available In Odenton

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — Individuals with an appointment can be tested for the coronavirus at a drive-up site in Odenton at Patient First. Appointments for testing can be made by calling a designated testing center where individuals will be asked about symptoms and risk factors to determine whether they meet screening criteria based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control.

According to Patient First, those criteria include symptoms such as:

• One of the following:

1. coughing
2. shortness of breath
3. difficulty breathing

• Or two of the following:

1. fever or fever with chills
2. chills without fever
3. sore throat
4. fatigue
5. body aches or muscle pain
6. headache
7. nausea and/or vomiting
8. diarrhea
9. loss of appetite
10. loss of smell
11. loss of taste

• You are a healthcare worker or first responder.
• You reside in a nursing home or other congregate living facility.
• You are a cancer patient who requires COVID-19 testing before beginning or resuming treatment.
• You are required by your doctor, hospital or outpatient surgical center to have COVID-19 testing prior to a planned surgery.
• You are required by your employer to have COVID-19 testing prior to beginning or returning to work.

Testing is scheduled between 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week. All test samples are collected outside of the center; patients may remain in their vehicles through the entire process. According to Patient First, the staff member collecting samples is equipped with proper personal protective equipment (PPE), including an N95 mask, gloves, eye protection and gown. Samples are sent to a third-party reference lab for testing and results generally will be available in two to four days and accessible on Patient First’s patient portal. The visit will be submitted to patients' insurance.