Spillers: Coronavirus Testing Supplies An "Issue"

WAAY 31's Sydney Martin is live outside Huntsville Hospital where she worked to learn more about testing capabilities and how they're keeping up with the demand.

How they're keeping up with that demand.

A spokesperson for huntsville hospital told me they tested more than 300 people at their flu and fever clinic yesterday-and some told us there was a more than 2 hour wait to get tested.

This comes as hospital c-e-o david spillers said they need more testing supplies..

David spillers, huntsville hospital ceo "testing equipment continues to be an issue.

I wish we had the supplies to do another 2,000 tests in house because i think we could provide better care to the community if we have access to those."

Huntsville hospital c-e-o david spillers said the hospital purchased additional machines to process the coronavirus test- in hopes to get a higher allotment of testing supplies.

For two days- waay 31 heard from viewers who went to the flu and fever clinic to get tested for the virus- they were told there was a 2 to 3 hour wait..and some were turned away after being told the clinic hit capacity.

A hospital spokesperson told me it's seeing an increase in demand for testing.

And if the clinic'sparking lot is full, patients are not allowed in for testing and there are other community avenues for testing.

But urgent cares across madison county waay 31 reached out to tuesday- told us they were out of testing supplies and waiting for more.

The hospital said tests currently processed for immediate return in house are those of inpatients and hospital employees-- while the other tests are sent out to labs in the state and can take at least 2 to 3 days for patients to get results.

Spillers said they've ordered more testing machines in hopes to get more testing supplies.

David spillers, huntsville hospital ceo "i'd love to have twice as much capacity.

We have talked to the vendors that supply us.

They have basically said because everyone in the country is trying to do testing we are basically limited in what we are getting right now."

The hospital said the best way to get tested is to show up - i asked if they're considering reopening the drive thru clinic at john hunt park like they had back in march..

They told me if they keep seeing the number of patients they're seeing each day right now - they'll look to reopen it.

Live in huntsville sm waay 31 news.