2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

The 2019 novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a virus of global health significance caused by infection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). COVID-19 is thought to spread from person to person in close contact through respiratory droplets.

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common in people and many different species of animals. COVID-19 is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The virus, which can cause mild to severe respiratory illness. There is limited information available to characterize the spectrum of clinical illness associated with COVID-19 but it’s likely spreads to others when a person shows signs or symptoms of being sick (e.g., fever, coughing, difficulty breathing, etc.)

Information About Laboratory Testing

Our priority at Sterling Pathology remains in the health and safety of our employees and to the healthcare providers and their patients we serve. COVID-19 testing is essential in helping corporations and healthcare providers to identify infected patients. We are working determinedly to develop and offer testing that will deliver quality and accurate results. Sterling Pathology is providing both COVID-19 rt-PCR testing and Antibody.

COVID-19 Testing Solutions

Our molecular diagnostic test is FDA-authorized for emergency use authorization (EUA) during the COVID-19 pandemic. We offer packaged programs that allow you to administer and oversee testing for everyone in your school, workplace, or community.

Sterling Pathology National Laboratories announced the implementation of an integrated workflow from BGI/MGI for automating COVID-19 testing. The workflow includes BGI’s Real-time fluorescent RT-PCR kit for SARS-CoV-2 detection as well as MGI’s MGISTP-7000, MGISP-960, and viral RNA extraction kit, bringing rapid, accurate testing capabilities on a massive scale in our state-of-the-art CLIA-certified laboratory.

The RT-PCR kit has received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from FDA for testing on commonly used real-time PCR machines and has shown to outperform in clinical sensitivity. Most recent in silico and functional analysis has also revealed that the mutation in the UK variant B.1.1.7 does not impact the kit performance in SARS-CoV-2 detection. In addition, the MGISP-960 based viral RNA extraction is validated and included in the EUA of RT-PCR kit.

Sterling Pathology, based in Seal Beach, CA, will begin processing clinical COVID-19 samples to support public health efforts over the coming weeks, with a near-term goal of performing an additional 7,000 tests per day to our current run of 500-1,000 tests per day, with a laboratory turnaround time of 24 hours.

Sterling Pathology’s COVID-19 testing platform connects supply to demand through integrated software to manage test ordering, results delivery, and public health agency case reporting. The software also allows for rapid deployment of onsite or pop-up collection centers, as well as event contract work with national corporations.

Sterling Pathology processes COVID-19 samples collected under the oversight of qualified healthcare professionals and operates under current FDA-approved protocols and guidelines. For the latest information on Sterling Pathology’s efforts to strengthen the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic, visit https://www.sterlingpath.com.

Our FDA-EUA Authorized Tests

Sterling Pathology diagnostic tests serve as the core of our COVID-19 test offerings. Clinicians can now directly order our FDA EUA authorized molecular test, antibody test through a safe and streamlined process.

Molecular Test

RT-PCR
Detecting active COVID-19 infections.

Why Molecular Testing?

Molecular testing is capable of detecting active COVID-19 infections in the human body. Unique genetic markers of the virus can be found in RNA that only remains in the body while the virus invades and replicates itself. The benefits of molecular testing is its sensitivity in detecting active infections, allowing patients to receive appropriate treatment options from their Primary Care Provider, and take measures to prevent spreading the disease.

Test Options

Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Virus Testing by RT-PCR (FDA-authorized test*)