Remembering COVID: Bellingham Lab Reaches COVID-19 Testing Milestone

Months have passed since the World Health Organization officially declared the global COVID-19 Public Health Emergency was over on May 11, 2023. As time has passed, many have understandably moved on from the disruption and risk associated with the pandemic. 

Learn More: End of the Federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) Declaration

Now all of us in the lab diagnostics industry can take a collective deep breath after three stressful years of dealing with the pandemic. 

Taking a step back is important, as is remembering the lessons learned so we’re all properly prepared if another infectious disease on the scale of COVID-19 enters the population. 

With that in mind, we at LigoLab did what we could to help our lab partners during the pandemic. We did our best to work with our partners, understand their needs, and provide them with the cutting-edge pathology lab software tools they needed to combat the disease and keep themselves and their patients safe.  

Learn More: Best Pathology Lab Reporting Software - 2025 Buyers Guide and Checklist

In addition to rapidly developing new pathology software tools and workflows for our lab partners, we documented some of their stories as they became frontline warriors in the fight against COVID-19. 

Now let’s take the opportunity to look back at one of those stories and highlight the impressive work of Northwest Laboratory (based in Bellingham, Washington, now known as Avero Diagnostics) which quickly gained a lot of notoriety first for high-volume COVID testing, and second for being able to get test results to patients and physicians consistently within a 24-hour window. 

What follows is information that first appeared in a LigoLab blog post on December 11, 2020, helping to mark a major milestone for the clinical laboratory.

One Million Test Milestone Achieved  

December 11, 2020 - Northwest Laboratory completed one million COVID tests within eight months. It all started when the lab secured a state-wide contract to identify asymptomatic COVID-19 patients in long-term care facilities in Florida. 

Since then, the clinical lab operation has scaled its testing capacity to 25,000 daily tests by accelerating turnaround time to under 24 hours for most of its samples. 

Check out this King 5 News report (Seattle, Washington) which features the dedicated and hardworking staff at Northwest Laboratory.

Watch Video: Bellingham Lab Reaches COVID-19 Testing Milestone But Faces Burnout Among Staff

In addition to the King 5 News video, here's a little background that provides greater detail into Northwest Laboratory's journey to one million COVID tests in just eight months. 

The journey began with the laboratory's statewide contract with the Florida Department of Health in May 2020. Since then, Northwest Laboratory has rapidly expanded its services to include clients in 36 states, Mexico, and Canada. 

Here is a snapshot of the lab's accomplishments.

Northwest Laboratory - A National Clinical Laboratory Offering High-Volume, Rapid Turnaround COVID-19 Testing Services

Turnaround Time: Less than 24 hours after receiving a specimen for 96 percent of the cases and less than 48 hours for over 99 percent. 

Active Capacity: 25,000 COVID-19 tests per day. 

Results to Date: Over 1 Million COVID-19 PCR tests (reached the 1 million test milestone on Thanksgiving Day - November 26).

Providing Testing Services For: 36 states, plus Mexico and Canada; Drive-through and walk-up collection sites; Long-term care facilities; Hospitals; Department of Corrections; Schools and universities; Organizational testing.

Learn More About Northwest Laboratory’s Impressive Work

Two other blog posts were included in the December 11, 2020 post. They are both highlighted here. 

A 24-Hour Commitment for COVID-19 Test Results

Read Blog: Northwest Laboratory Leads the Way with its 24-Hour Commitment for COVID-19 Test Results

Read Blog Summary: For effective COVID-19 testing, fast turnaround times are crucial, and achievable through robust pathology lab reporting software solutions that manage the entire testing lifecycle, from patient registration to laboratory billing (lab revenue cycle management). 

Northwest Laboratory (NWL) - utilizing LigoLab’s LIS laboratory information system software (LIS software) and the TestDirectly direct-to-consumer lab testing portal - exemplifies this efficiency. NWL has processed 1.5 million COVID-19 tests, with the vast majority reported within 24 hours.

Key TestDirectly innovations include patient self-registration, automated QR code assignment, and streamlined lab workflows like batch scanning, plate mapping, and pooled testing, all appealing assets for direct-to-consumer labs. 

TestDirectly eliminates manual requisitions, enabling seamless patient registration, specimen tracking, and real-time results via consumer lab reports to patients and public health authorities.

NWL was pivotal in large-scale testing initiatives, including a Florida Department of Health contract to screen asymptomatic residents in 4,000 long-term care facilities and partnerships with the Washington State Department of Corrections, drive-through sites, and various organizations. These efforts highlight its adaptability and capacity to meet high testing demands while maintaining rapid, accurate results.

Learn More: How TestDirectly Helped DuPage County Create a More Efficient Drive-Through With Faster Test Results

The TestDirectly direct-to-consumer lab testing portal ensures efficiency outside the lab by handling patient scheduling and specimen labeling. All this while LigoLab’s medical LIS system optimizes lab operations with configurable workflows and an integrated interface engine. Over one 30-day period, NWL processed 180,000 tests with 98 percent of results delivered within 24 hours.

NWL’s approach demonstrates how innovative LIS medical and direct-to-consumer lab testing technologies can replace outdated manual processes to meet massive testing demands and reduce errors. This model has positioned NWL as an industry leader, setting a benchmark for other clinical laboratories striving to enhance their direct-to-consumer lab testing capabilities and public health contributions during the pandemic.

Avero Diagnostics: Revolutionizing Laboratory Operations with LigoLab’s Medical LIS System and TestDirectly

Read Blog: How Our Lab Partner Embraced Innovation and Won a Statewide Testing Contract

Read Blog Summary: Avero Diagnostics, formerly Northwest Laboratory, has used LigoLab's medical LIS system software since 2015 to enhance pathology lab management. By integrating LigoLab’s TestDirectly direct-to-consumer lab testing portal, Avero led the way in streamlined COVID-19 testing workflows, achieving faster turnaround times. 

A notable achievement was a May 2020 partnership with Florida’s Department of Health (DOH), screening 500,000 long-term care residents and staff for COVID-19. This initiative, supported by LigoLab’s molecular LIS system workflow and TestDirectly, enabled real-time monitoring and rapid response, identifying asymptomatic patients and protecting vulnerable populations.

Within four weeks, Avero processed 190,000 tests with results available in 2-to-3 days. TestDirectly’s web-based system eliminated bottlenecks by automating workflows and supporting patient registration, sample tracking, and direct report delivery. This integration facilitated seamless collaboration across departments and optimized lab operations, improving accuracy and scalability.

Avero expanded operations post-Florida, partnering with Washington State Corrections and Whatcom County Health. TestDirectly’s adaptability enabled rapid deployment of drive-through collection sites nationwide.

LigoLab’s all-in-one medical LIS system software, with modules for anatomic pathology, clinical laboratory, molecular diagnostics, lab revenue cycle management, and direct-to-consumer lab testing, supports end-to-end lab operations, reducing siloed information, errors, and denied claims and while enhancing collections. LigoLab empowers labs like Avero to grow, improve efficiency, and deliver superior service to patients and public health initiatives by leveraging innovation and customization. 

Learn More: The Power of Integration: Unleashing the Potential of LigoLab's LIS System & Lab RCM Platform