The Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory helps ease the shortage of testing facilities
within the state and county, allowing providers in Kansas to increase testing. The
MDL provides 24-hour turnaround on all test results – delivered through a patient
digital portal – in order to get residents back to school and work faster and to keep
our economy open.
Just in time for the surge of respiratory illnesses flooding the state, Wichita State
University’s Molecular Diagnostics Lab has announced it will extend free RSV, influenza
and COVID (RIC) testing through March 31, 2023.
The MDL has been providing public testing for COVID since October 2020, and the triple-virus
RIC test was added to the MDL’s capabilities in December 2021. All MDL testing costs
have been covered through CARES funding from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
The MDL, which opened in October 2020, was built in response to COVID-19 as a lab
that could test large quantities of specimens with a short turnaround, allowing for
precise quarantine and treatment of those infected and mitigating the spread of the
virus.
“We are so grateful that our state leaders have been able to extend CARES funding
to provide testing through this respiratory season,” said Sarah Nickel, director of
the MDL. “The RIC test provides results to three of the most common viruses circulating
right now in our community. These viruses can cause very severe illness, especially
in the young and the elderly.”
The MDL is open to the public, and drive-up testing is available by appointment. To
get tested, follow this three-step process:
Visit the MDL at 4174 S. Oliver in Wichita to get tested. Test results will be available
within 24 hours and can be viewed via the MDL portal.
“We encourage the community to take advantage of the continued funding to get tested
for free by visiting MDL or one of our partners,” Nickel said. “We want to help keep
the community safe and prevent further spread of these diseases as much as possible.”
