Adam Schechter on public health
From LabCorp CEO says company can process 200,000 tests per day · · FacetheNation
“We are building capacity every single day, currently at 200,000 tests a day, and we will not stop; we are buying every machine and reagent we can to prepare for the fall flu season.”
On , Adam Schechter, President, Chief Executive Officer & Chairman at Laboratory Corporation of Amerc Holdings, spoke about public health during LabCorp CEO says company can process 200,000 tests per day on FacetheNation.
About Adam Schechter
In an October 2020 interview, Labcorp CEO Adam Schechter discussed the company's COVID-19 testing capacity and preparations for the flu season. Schechter stated that Labcorp had increased its testing capacity from 2,000-3,000 tests per day in March to over 200,000 tests per day, and that the company was continuing to expand by purchasing additional machines and reagents. He noted that Labcorp was receiving about 100,000 samples per day on average and that its labs operated 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Schechter also described three types of COVID-19 tests—PCR, antigen, and antibody—and said that while PCR is considered the gold standard, antigen tests are useful for surveillance despite being less accurate. Schechter addressed concerns about testing turnaround times, stating that while results typically take about 24 hours, he disagreed with the view that tests become useless after two days, arguing that a three-day result could still help individuals decide whether to return to work. He encouraged the public to get flu vaccinations, practice social distancing, wear masks, and maintain good hygiene, even after receiving a negative test result. Schechter also noted that Labcorp had launched a combined test for flu, RSV, and COVID-19 using a single nasal swab.