STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

St. Luke’s Health System ais now offering asymptomatic COVID-19 testing at locations in Ketchum, Twin Falls, Boise, Baker City, Fruitland, Jerome, McCall, Meridian, Mountain Home and Nampa later this week.

The nasal swab testing is designed for those worried about possible exposure to the virus at school or work, in communal living situations, for pre- and post-travel and other situations. Appointments can be scheduled through myChart. Questions can be directed to 208-381-9500.

The tests consist of a little swirl around the nose that may tickle, rather than the old test that involved pushing a giant swab up the nose towards the brain.

Tests results should be returned to the patient the same day, thanks to new high-capacity processers in Boise and Twin Falls that allow lab workers to process as many as 1,500 specimens a day.

St. Luke’s has also expanded antigen testing to 51 primary care and urgent care locations allowing those clinics to collect and process a COVID-19 test while the patient is still in the clinic. Results are back within about 20 minutes

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, St. Luke’s has collected and processed more than 230,000 COVID-19 tests.