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New form of COVID-19 testing comes to Lexington, can confirm results in 15 minutes

Posted at 9:46 PM, Oct 30, 2020
and last updated 2020-10-30 21:46:43-04

LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — Lexington clinic Bluegrass Family and Extended Care is using a new device for COVID-19 testing.

The small portable device is called the Abbott 'ID Now' and can confirm results in 15 minutes.

"I think the thing that is great about the Abbott 'ID Now' is its precision and its accuracy. Fast only counts if it's accurate. Fast doesn't count if you are giving people the wrong information," says Doctor John Richard.

Richard has had the device for years, but it was initially used to test for influenza.

The test is administrated like any other COVID-19 test, but it also swabs the back of the mouth.

Richard says the accuracy of the device is in the high 90s, "it's been very positive for our practice to be able to give people definitive answers, on whether or not they have exposure at this time," says Richard.

Richard's clinic may be one of the places in Lexington to get this form of COVID-19, but he says more areas are getting the technology.