CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The CHRISTUS Spohn Health System purchased a machine that's capable of conducting 1,000 COVID-19 tests in a single day.
"This is a game-changer," said CHRISTUS Spohn President and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Osbert Blow. "The accuracy of this test is very good. In fact it’s outstanding."
The machine is called a Cepheid GeneXpert Infinity 48, and it cost the hospital group $200,000. CHRISTUS Spohn is keeping it at its Regional Reference Laboratory, where scientists will run tests for hospitals, the city and county for a fee.
"My prayer has been answered, because we can test more," Nueces Co. Judge Barbara Canales said. "We can be more efficient with the resources and the time.”
“This is a great day for Corpus Christi and Nueces county," Corpus Christi Mayor Joe McComb said. "We appreciate CHRISTUS Spohn’s investment in this community.
Currently there are only 1,000 test kits available for the machine, so it will not be running at full capacity. As the supply dwindles, Canales said she'd work with the state to get more supplies.
