COVID-19 testing and public health service startup Curative today announced the deployment of a new walk-up kiosk in Houston with up to 360 tests per day available to approved patients. The site is located at University of Houston Student Center and will be available to UH staff, faculty and students only.
“Curative is proud to be working with the University of Houston and a crucial resource for the community during this recent surge in cases during the pandemic,” said Fred Turner, CEO and co-founder of Curative. “Curative’s goal is to make testing more accessible with our easy walk-up kiosk. Our unique, self-collected oral fluid swab COVID-19 PCR test offers a painless, simple option with quick 24-48 hour results upon receipt at our labs delivered directly and no cost to patients.”
Curative offers oral-fluid swab testing—an alternative method to nasopharyngeal or brain swabs in testing for COVID-19. The observed and directed self-collected oral fluid swab involves having the person cough first, which releases virus from the upper and lower respiratory tract. The virus is then caught in the saliva, the patient then swabs the inside of their cheeks and the roofs of their mouths. Once complete, the patient seals their test within a secure container and returns it to a medical professional to be administered in the lab. The entire Curative test is done without having to come into close contact with others, therefore eliminating the need for personal protective equipment (PPE) changes. The sample collection process can be viewed here.
“The addition of no-cost testing for UH students and employees, conveniently available on campus is the latest in our effort to create a learning, working and living environment that is as safe as possible,” said Kelly Boysen, UH assistant vice president for campus safety and COVID-19 response coordinator. “We encourage our campus community to get tested, especially if they have recently traveled, are attending in-person classes or are working on campus, or have been potentially exposed to COVID-19.”
Testing is currently available by appointment at the University of Houston Student Center. Appointments are available at curative.com as well as additional information on all of Curative’s offerings.