Sandstone Pharmacy on Carry drive in Medicine Hat is now offering PCR COVID-19 tests for a fee.--NEWS PHOTO
A local pharmacy is offering the public the option of a PCR COVID-19 test for a fee.
Sandstone Pharmacies, which has a franchise in Medicine Hat on Carry Drive, says the demand for COVID testing is high, particularly in rural communities.
“Being an organization which services communities across Alberta, we understand implicitly people’s need to have trusted local facilities where they can get friendly professional advice as well as the medical and health-care products they need,” said Marco Casagrande, vice president Sandstone Pharmacies.
It is an option for people who need to travel and require a negative COVID PCR test in order to do so. It is also an option for those who prefer to pay for the service rather than go through the process of setting up an appointment after calling Health Link 811 or having to drive to a testing site.
The cost is $150 per test and results are provided within 24 hours, a spokesperson for Sandstone said.
Sandstone is offering the test at 20 of its pharmacies in Alberta including Medicine Hat. Many of its pharmacies are located in rural areas where it may not be as convenient to reach an Alberta Health Services testing site.
Last summer, Sandstone participated in the asymptomatic COVID testing, which involved a throat swab, and the cost was covered by Alberta Health. This was later stopped by Alberta Health.
Casagrande says with the global pandemic crisis, having an option like the one it is offering has become more important than ever.
“We’re very pleased to be partnering with one of Canada’s most exciting healthcare innovators CardiAI and, with them, ensuring all Albertans have a quick and convenient way to get accurately tested,” said Casagrande.
He said it’s important for people to access local testing.
“Our collaboration with CardiAi ensures our PCR test is made available to as many Albertans as possible and we are excited to be working with the incredible team to advance that effort,” said Casagrande.
In early December, the News announced that COVID PCR tests were available for a fee at Shopper Drug Mart and also Ichor Blood Services.
Ichor partnered to do the tests through Dynalife, the provincial laboratory, for a fee of $150.
Mike Kuzmickas, founder and CEO of Ichor Blood Services, said his company has partnered with Dynalife to collect the samples for testing in Medicine Hat.
