Commission Votes to Move Forward with Saliva Testing for COVID-19

(Sedgwick County, KS) – During its special meeting, the Board of County Commissioners voted to move forward with a rapid response saliva test with a clinical reference laboratory in Lenexa, Kansas. Commissioners also agreed to move forward in partnership with Wichita State University for nasopharyngeal swab testing and saliva testing, first reimbursing WSU for expenses that have already been incurred – up to $1.5 million which will create a local lab capacity for Sedgwick County.

Upon recommendation from Dr. Elizabeth Ablah with KU School of Medicine, County staff will begin to develop a transition plan for providers in Sedgwick County to achieve the goal of testing a total of 2,234 residents per day.

Currently, the Health Department continues to offer nasopharyngeal swab sampling to symptomatic residents and high-priority professions like healthcare professionals, corrections officers, first responders, and law enforcement officers.

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