A negative COVID-19 test before holiday travel doesn’t mean you’re in the clear

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) – While Utahns are advised to stay home for the holidays, many are still traveling in and out of the state.

With the increase in travel, there has been an increase in testing. Olympus Health and Performance started out as a mobile IV therapy company, but their CEO, Lauren Lightfield, said the need for COVID-19 testing has been so great that now they do testing seven days a week.

She said between their mobile testing office in Salt Lake City, and their soon-to-open locations in Provo and Park City, there is still even more need for testing.

“A lot of expanding to help meet the demand,” Lightfield said.

Unlike some locations, they offer the COVID-19 test for people without symptoms, for which the need has grown as the holidays approach.

“I’m actually going to the airport tomorrow to help a gentleman who is flying to South America, and he has a five-hour layover, and he has to get the rapid antigen test in order to go to South America,” Lightfield said.

Lightfield said state guidelines should be followed, including wearing masks and staying only within your household.

“But we know people are out there not doing that, and one of the tests that we do offer is the rapid antigen.”

The rapid test is a nasal swab that tells you in 10 minutes if you currently have the coronavirus. She said there is always a chance that you could test negative, while you are in the three-to-five-day incubation period of the virus.

“There is a narrow window of opportunity where you could have an exposure the day before Thanksgiving and get tested on Thanksgiving, and still infect somebody because it wasn’t detectable,” said Lightfield.

She said if you have been exposed it’s best to quarantine for five days, and then get tested for the virus. She also said if you are planning on traveling or being in a large group, consider also getting tested before going back to your family or head back to work or school.

Lightfield said at Olympus Health and Performance their COVID PCR tests are covered by most insurance. Those are tests that take two days to get the results back and have a 3% chance of a false negative. Their rapid test costs $75. That test gets results in 10 minutes and has about a 10% chance of a false negative.

Olympus Health & Performance on ABC4’s Good Morning Utah (9/18/2020)

ABC4/KTVX’s Good Morning Utah interviews Olympus Health & Performance’s Co-Founder and CEO Lauren Lightfield on their coronavirus testing services.

Utah health company offers public mobile antibody testing in Salt Lake and Park City

A Utah company is now offering rapid COVID-19 antibody testing to the general public in Salt Lake City, Park City and surrounding areas.

Olympus Health & Performance is the first private company in the state to offer coronavirus antibody testing to the general public, according to a news release sent Thursday from the company.

The tests show results in 10 minutes or less and determine if the patient has antibodies for the disease rather than determining if they are actively infected with the novel coronavirus, the release said.

The health company began testing last week and as of Thursday had administered more than 400 people, of which there was a 5.4% positive rate.

“This new test only identifies whether you’ve developed the antibodies for the disease. It is not a test to see if you currently carry the virus or have COVID-19,” said Dr. Robert Sawyer, chief scientific officer at Olympus Health & Performance. “If you’ve been exposed to or are infected by the coronavirus but have not yet developed antibodies, this test may not be able to identify your exposure until more time has passed.”

Olympus Health is working with state officials to track and slow the spread of the virus.

Tests cost $150 [NOTE from Olympus: Testing is now at no cost] and are by appointment only. Because of limited supply, testing is first come, first serve.

“If you are tested and we detect no coronavirus antibodies in your blood, it means you are more susceptible to getting ill from the coronavirus,” Sawyer added. “We continue to stress you should continue to follow all CDC and local government recommendations for minimizing your exposure to the virus.”

— Lauren Bennett, KSL.com

Utah company offering antibody testing to general public

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4 News) – As the State of Utah continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, state and private labs are beginning to conduct antibody testing to determine the prevalence of the virus in Utah.

Olympus Health & Performance say it is now the first private company in the state offering coronavirus antibody testing to the general public.

Company representatives say the test shows if a patient has developed antibodies for the coronavirus in 10 minutes or less.

“So far, we’ve tested over 400 people, and we’re finding the overall positive rate to be about 5.4 %, very similar to what has been described for asymptomatic people in other areas of the country, said Lauren Lightfield, NP, CEO of Olympus Health & Performance.

The company is working with state health officials to report test results to track the spread and slowing of the virus.

If you’re interested in getting tested, you can find more information at https://utahcoronavirustest.com.

Aytu BioScience Announces Launch of Nationwide Mobile COVID-19 Testing Initiative

Aytu BioScience COVID-19 IgG/IgM Rapid Test Distribution Partner Apollo Med Innovations Initiates Nationwide Mobile Testing Partnership with Olympus Health and Performance

ENGLEWOOD, CO (Yahoo Money) – Aytu BioScience, Inc. (NASDAQ:AYTU), a specialty pharmaceutical company (the “Company”) focused on commercializing novel products that address significant patient needs announced today that the Company has partnered with Apollo Med Innovations (“Apollo”) and Olympus Health and Performance (“Olympus”) to launch a nationwide mobile COVID-19 testing initiative for companies. Apollo/Olympus has combined their nationwide network of medical professionals from Apollo with the back office systems and billing platform of Olympus and the Company’s licensed COVID-19 IgG/IgM antibody tests to provide companies the ability to offer streamlined, on-demand COVID-19 testing at their location.

Through the relationships between the Company, Apollo, and Olympus, the companies offer employees and related parties the ability to receive COVID-19 testing at convenient locations administered by licensed medical professionals in a compliant healthcare setting. Apollo utilizes ultraviolet light technologies including handheld UVC devices, wall units and robotics for large spaces to sterilize each location to ensure as safe an environment as possible while using the clinically validated antibody tests marketed by Aytu along with PCR testing for those showing positive COVID-19 antibodies and/or COVID-19 symptoms.

Josh Disbrow, Chief Executive Officer of Aytu BioScience, commented, “We are proud to support the combined efforts of Apollo and Olympus in bringing COVID-19 tests to a wide range of companies and communities around the country. This mobile testing initiative is providing companies with a safe solution to the return-to-work challenge that is impacting virtually every company and community. We look forward to working with the Apollo and Olympus teams to broaden their reach and meet the testing needs of companies and their employees.”

“Providing a safe environment for employees, customers and guests is both socially responsible and good for business,” said Randy Wright, CEO, Apollo Med Innovations. “Leveraging the strength of our network of medical professionals with the back office expertise of Olympus and Aytu’s tests offers companies a viable solution to one of the more vexing challenges of our professional lives. Companies seeking to initiate a mobile testing program are encouraged to visit our website www.apollomedinnovations.com or to contact Apollo directly at 844-698-4782 to learn more.”

Lauren Lightfield, CEO, Olympus Health and Performance, said, “Olympus developed its back office system and billing platform for individuals seeking effective and reliable testing in the Salt Lake City area. By partnering with Apollo we are now able to expand our efforts and offer these critical services to as many people as possible around the country.”

Antibody Testing Pioneers Olympus Health & Performance Expand By Announcing Utah’s Only Mobile COVID-19 PCR Testing

Sale Lake City Area Company Provides On-Site Testing for Businesses; Individuals

SALT LAKE CITY, UT (EIN Presswire) – Olympus Health & Performance – one of Utah’s earliest adaptors to offer antibody testing – continues to expand their COVID-19 services to meet market needs with the launch of mobile, on-site PCR testing for businesses and individuals. They are now the state’s only mobile, CLIA-certified company offering both FDA-authorized antibody testing and COVID-19 PCR testing.

Olympus Health & Performance offers Utah’s only FDA-authorized, mobile antibody testing and COVID-19 PCR testing available both onsite at company locations or elsewhere for individuals. The antibody test shows if a patient has developed antibodies for the coronavirus in 10 minutes or less; with COVID-19 PCR testing, results return within two days.

In April, Olympus Health & Performance was the first private company to offer the point of care antibody test, which determines whether a patient has developed IgG and IgM antibodies for the disease, unlike other tests that determine if a patient is actively infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. Today, they’ve also added a dedicated test site option for patients who want to come in for the antibody or COVID-19 PCR test.

“Since the start of the pandemic, we’ve strived to stay ahead and on top of testing to able to offer our clients not just access to tests, but a more streamlined process by going to them, versus them having to line up at a testing site,” said Lauren Lightfield, NP, CEO of Olympus Health & Performance. “As businesses in Utah begin to open back up and employees return to the workplace, many employers want to test them first in a safe and swift way. By devising a way to test all employees on-site, it’s an efficient way to discover which employees are the least susceptible to new coronavirus infections as well as who is actively infected.”

The antibody and COVID-19 PCR tests are available for no co-pay or out-of-pocket costs to insured patients. Antibody tests for uninsured patients are also covered through federal aid and available at no cost to the patient.

As the testing evolved, Olympus Health & Performance found themselves not only advocating for patient health but their rights as well. Early on in the pandemic, Olympus proactively contacted insurance companies to advocate for their patients – even enlisting the assistance of Senator Mike Lee and the state’s Attorney General to ensure the insurance companies reimbursed for testing. They continue to work together to hold major insurance companies accountable for testing that is required to be covered under the Federal Cares Act.

“A trend we saw since the start of testing is the majority of those seeking the tests are companies. Utah’s business community is looking to reopen, they want to get employees back to work safely for those individuals who have come in contact with the COVID-19 virus or were high-risk individuals who wanted testing before returning to the workplace,” said Dr. Robert Sawyer, Chief Scientific Officer at Olympus Health & Performance. “We’ve hired additional staff and worked out a way to test hundreds of employees on-site in one day, to see which team members have developed the antibodies and now we are able to test for active infection as well.”

Sawyer said that no matter the test results, current health protocols should not stop. “We continue to stress that everyone should follow all CDC and local government recommendations for minimizing your exposure to the virus. Wash your hands, practice social distancing, and wear masks in public.”

Tests are limited on a first-come, first-served basis. Scheduling is required at UtahCoronavirusTest.com.