St. Johnâs United can now test its employees and long-term care residents for COVID-19 after opening its own lab in downtown Billings earlier this month.
The company operates independent, assisted and nursing home living facilities. The facilities house around 550 residents and employ 700 staff.
St. Johnâs opened the lab in the Gainan Commons in downtown Billings and has already begun processing samples. The project has been in the works since October, and specific licensing was needed to open a certified lab.
Lab Administrator Ashley Bontjes, from left, and Clinical Laboratory Scientists MyLinda Lovell, and Mary Smith pose for a picture with the QuantStudio 7 Pro, which analyses COVID-19 tests, in the foreground at the St. John s United COVID-19 testing lab.