Coronavirus Saliva Testing Available At Mercer County Hospital

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — Henry J. Austin Health Center (HJAHC) in Trenton is now offering saliva testing for the coronavirus to members of the community by appointment at no cost for residents who don’t have health insurance, the hospital announced.

The saliva test is more comfortable and less invasive than the nasal swab test used to diagnose an active case of the coronavirus, according to the hospital. Tests are available for HJAHC’s adult and pediatric patients at 321 N. Warren Street and their mobile health unit throughout Trenton.

“We hope having this type of test available for the Trenton community encourages more residents to get tested,” HJAHC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Rachael Evans said. “Testing enables us to identify those with infections, provide quick treatment and immediate isolation to prevent spread. I am so proud of our team for their hard work to make this available — especially for our underserved community.”

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The test is available for anyone who is currently a patient at the hospital, anyone who has been seen by an HJAHC provider within the past year or anyone who schedules a telemedicine visit with an HJAHC provider. Telemedicine appointments are often available the same day, as requested.

Those who wish to take the test will not need to provide identification or health insurance. All health and personal information gathered is kept confidential and private and not shared with the federal government. HJAHC also has resources for patients who are uninsured, self-pay or need transportation to the facility.

“Since launching COVID-19 saliva testing on July 1, 2020, we have performed 92 tests, with 8% positive rate,” HJAHC Primary Care Director Tyler Henderson said. “To prevent wider COVID-19 infection, our providers urge the community to avoid crowded places, wear a face mask or covering outside your home, stay at least six feet away from others outside your household and wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds.”

If you have questions or would like more information about COVID-19 testing or how to make a telemedicine appointment, contact media and communications specialist, Jen Yaeger, at jennifer.yaeger@henryjaustin.org or visit www.henryjaustin.org.

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