Drive-up coronavirus (COVID-19) testing site opens Friday in Detroit: How it works

New site aims to test 400 per day

FILE - In this March 20, 2020, file photo, a health care worker prepares to collect a sample to test for COVID-19 at a drive-thru testing site in Miami. Thieves steal surgical masks. A clinic sells fake COVID-19 tests. Hate groups encourage sick members to infect law enforcement officers. Imposters pose as public health officials. As the coronavirus pandemic spreads across the globe so too do the crimes related to it. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File) (Wilfredo Lee, Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

DETROIT – A new regional drive-up testing site will open in Detroit as the result of a cross-county, city and health system partnership.

Four hundred people per day will be able to start getting tested on Friday for COVID-19 at a new drive up testing center at the State Fairgrounds. The new testing site is part of a partnership that includes:

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  • Detroit Medical Center
  • Henry Ford Health System
  • Trinity Health Systems
  • City of Detroit
  • Macomb County
  • Oakland County
  • Wayne County

Testing will be done Monday-Saturday, 7 AM – 6 PM at the State Fairgrounds in Detroit, starting this Friday, March 27. The samples will be taken by staff of the three health care systems from residents who will remain their cars at the drive-thru site.

Related: Michigan coronavirus (COVID-19) cases total 2,295; Death toll rises to 43

The tests of the samples will be run by Bioreference Labs of New Jersey under a contract with the City of Detroit to process up to 500 samples a day for the next 6 weeks. Test results will be received within 5 days.

You must get doctor’s order to be tested

In order to be tested, patients need to first get a doctor’s order and then either the doctor or the patient can call 313-230-0505 to schedule the Drive Through appointment.

Bedrock’s Dan Gilbert has donated the call center operations of Quicken Loans and Rock Connections to handle the appointments, which can be made from 9AM until 7 PM, seven days a week.

Fifty cars an hour will be scheduled so there will be no back up and long lines.

More FAQ on the testing site:

How the CCCN Drive-thru testing site will work

  • Between March 27 and May 8, the site will perform 14,400 tests, which will be conducted by appointment only, based on referrals from doctors.
  • During this six-week period, the site will operate from 7 AM until 6 PM Monday thru Saturday starting Friday, March 27. It will operate until May 8.
  • The entrance will be off of W. State Fair.

Who can go to the CCCN drive thru testing site?

  • Only individuals who have received a testing order from their physician and scheduled an appointment with the CCCN call center can get tested.
  • COVID-19 testing will be available to any resident of the tri-county region (Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb County)
  • Individuals who do not have an appointment and a physician order will not be tested.

There are two ways a person can be scheduled for an appointment:

  • A physician schedules an appointment for a patient and calls in a prescription to the call center, or,
  • An individual must receive a written prescription from a physician, schedule an appointment with the call center, and bring their prescription to the testing location.

How do I schedule an appointment with the CCCN call center?

  • Call the CCCN call center at 313-230-0505 to schedule your drive-thru testing appointment. Appointments are scheduled up to one week in advance.
  • The call center is open Monday through Sunday 9am – 7pm.
  • The appointment scheduling process for physicians includes:
  • Patients arrive at their doctor’s office presenting COVID-19 symptoms.
  • Doctor evaluates patient for COVID-19 and determines whether the patient should receive testing.
  • If the doctor determines that COVID-19 testing is needed, the doctor writes a prescription for the test.
  • While the patient is still present, the doctor’s office calls the CCCN call center with the prescription information and schedules an appointment for the patient at the drive thru.
  • The doctor’s office provides the patient with their drive-thru appointment date, time, and location and instructs them to bring their state issued or another form of valid ID.
  • The appointment scheduling process for an individual includes:
  • Patients arrive at their doctor’s office presenting COVID-19 symptoms.
  • Doctor evaluates patient for COVID-19 and determines whether the patient should receive testing.
  • If the doctor determines that COVID-19 testing is needed, the doctor writes a prescription for the test.
  • The patient calls the CCCN call center with the written prescription information and schedules an appointment at the drive thru.
  • The patient arrives at the drive-thru appointment with state issued or another form of valid ID and the written prescription.

About the Author:

Ken Haddad has proudly been with WDIV/ClickOnDetroit since 2013. He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters, and helps lead the WDIV Insider team. He's a big sports fan and is constantly sipping Lions Kool-Aid.