Birmingham is home to one of only 26 commercial labs in the nation approved to test for COVID-19.
Assurance Scientific Laboratories is a complex R&D reference lab that develops and provides rapid diagnostic services for clinicians, hospitals and other reference labs. It specializes in molecular and microbiologic technologies.
“Assurance has tested 2,604 patients and 54 have been positive,” said Dr. Chad Austin, co-founder of Assurance. “We have new machinery arriving daily and we are continually adding staff members. This will allow us to double our current capacity within the month in order to meet the overwhelming demand.”
Assurance serves medical practices, hospitals and health systems throughout the state and across the country, running COVID-19 tests for their patients and staff.
“We’re relieved to see other commercial labs in the state and throughout the country now able to offer the testing and hope more will continue to come on board each day to help with the demand,” said Dr. Ty Thomas, co-founder and lab director of Assurance.
Assurance has been partnering with the Church of the Highlands and Christ Health Center to offer drive-through testing for individuals within Alabama.
In addition to COVID-19, the company offers testing for more than 100 different pathogens, which cause respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, sexually transmitted infections, vaginitis, skin infections and gastrointestinal infections.
