Carroll College partners with Shodair for new COVID-19 tests
The new tests will have results within 24 hours.
By: Alexie Aguayo
and last updated 2021-01-22 11:06:41-05
HELENA â The start of Carroll Collegeâs Spring 2021 semester looked a lot like the start of the Fall 2020 semester.
Students took COVID-19 tests and followed precautions throughout campus, but now Carroll College is using a local resource for faster test turnaround times.
Students have a new test for COVID-19 this semester, a saliva test, making it quick and easy for all at Carroll College. However rather than waiting days for results from a lab in Colorado, all tests are analyzed locally in Helena at Shodair Childrenâs Hospital.
Carroll College students will be able to get COVID-19 tests with results in 24 hours through a new partnership between the school and Shodair Children s Hospital.Â
According to Carroll President John Cech, the college and Shodair started having conversations during the fall semester about developing a partnership. With its medical genetics expertise, infrastructure and facilities, Shodair was approved to use the SalivaDirect method for testing that was developed by the Yale Public School of Health. According to both Cech and Corbin Schwanke, chief administrative officer for genetics at Shodair, this method is equally as reliable, and less expensive, than tradition nasal swab tests.