New location for ETSU Health COVID-19 testing site

JOHNSON CITY (Dec. 14, 2020) – The ETSU Health COVID-19 community collection site that delivers PCR molecular test results in 24 hours is moving to a new location at the East Tennessee State University Parking Garage, located at the corner of State of Franklin Road and Jack Vest Drive.

Beginning Monday, Dec. 14, the COVID-19 collection site will become a drive-through testing site, operating on the second floor of the parking garage. Pre-registration through the ETSU Health website (www.etsuhealth.org) is required for tests.

Previously, the site was hosted at the Johnson City Community Health Center. However, as the demand for COVID-19 testing continues to increase, the new location will allow ETSU Health to accommodate a greater number of patients.

The testing site will continue to offer molecular PCR tests to both symptomatic and asymptomatic adults and children by appointment only. Anyone who wishes to receive a test can log on to an online portal at www.etsuhealth.org to register and schedule an appointment. Once tested, patients will receive their test results by secure text message, within 24 hours of collection.

To ensure fast results, ETSU Health will process the tests in-house at ETSU Clinical Labs, where they have the capability to run 200 molecular PCR tests per day for COVID-19 exposed and symptomatic patients. While there are now several COVID-19 tests available, PCR tests are considered the “gold standard” for reliability.

Appointments for tests will be available Monday through Thursday from 8:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Fridays from 8:15 a.m. to noon.

Upon arriving for their testing appointment, patients will enter the parking garage from Jack Vest Drive and follow signs proceeding to the second floor. Their preregistration will be verified and samples will be collected. Patients are asked to remain in their cars with theirs windows closed.

Tests will be billed to the patients’ insurance, and certain patients may be eligible for low-cost or no-cost testing.

Preregistration and appointments are required and must be made online. All appointments already made for future dates at the previous site will be automatically transferred to the new location.

To make an appointment for ETSU Health’s 24-hour COVID-19 testing, visit www.etsuhealth.org. For additional information about testing, please call 423-433-6077.