Allegheny Health Network opening covid-19 testing site at Heights Plaza

Allegheny Health Network is opening a drive-up covid-19 testing site to serve the Alle-Kiski Valley area at Heights Plaza in Harrison, the network announced Thursday.

The location, the network’s seventh drive-up collection site, will operate Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

It will then be open Tuesdays and Thursdays, also from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., starting next week.

Only patients who have been evaluated for covid-19 symptoms by an AHN-affiliated health care provider and have a prescription order may be tested at the sites. On-demand or walk-up testing will not be available at the Harrison location, the network said.

The network is encouraging patients, especially those with covid-19 or flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough and shortness of breath to use its online or telephone hotline options to get a test order and reduce exposure to others.

After a covid-19 test is ordered, AHN will contact patients directly to set up a collection appointment.

Samples are collected with a nasal swab that typically takes less than 30 seconds, not including any wait times. Patients will be given a specific appointment window to minimize wait times.

Samples will be tested for influenza and the novel coronavirus.

The network advises that patients should stay at home while waiting for test results, which will take five to seven days.

Other drive-up testing sites are located at AHN Wexford Health and Wellness Pavilion, AHN Bethel Park Health and Wellness Pavilion, 4220 William Penn Highway in Monroeville, AHN West Side Health and Wellness Pavilion in Erie, AHN Braddock Urgent Care and the former Divine Providence/Kindred Hospital on Pittsburgh’s North Side.

AHN says more than 2,500 patients have been tested at its drive-up collection sites since they were launched in March.