This article was included in a NSW Health newsletter and was . For the latest information about COVID-19 in NSW, please visit NSW Government - COVID-19.



NSW has one of the highest COVID-19 testing rates per capita in the world and reaching over one million tests already is an incredible result.

 

Approximately 425,000 people have now registered to get their COVID-19 test results sent to them via SMS, which has halved the average waiting time for negative results.

NSW Health Pathology’s secure SMS service delivers results directly to people who have been tested at a NSW public hospital or COVID-19 clinic. If you get tested, sign up for an SMS and get your results faster, usually within 24 hours.

Please note, this service does not deliver SMS results for COVID-19 tests performed by a private pathology provider, only those performed by NSW Health Pathology.

It’s making an enormous difference to our patients and front-line health workers alike, especially as NSW is undertaking record levels of testing. 

NSW Health Pathology Chief Executive Tracey McCosker PSM, said being able to deliver negative results faster to patients means we can help reduce their anxiety levels and take pressure off the health care system. 

‘Most results are now being delivered within 24-72 hours of lab testing. This is a fantastic result given the unprecedented number of registrations. We are also continuing to work with Service NSW to provide patients with access to their result via the Service NSW App,’ Ms McCosker said.

‘I applaud the hard work, commitment and collaboration of our Information and Communications Technology and clinical teams, as well as the dedicated staff who have been keeping the associated call centre going and of course our amazing lab staff who are working tirelessly to test samples,’ she said.

NSW Health Pathology is receiving some lovely feedback from members of the community. 

Sophie, a busy mum of two young children, was tested on Friday and was relieved to have her results back quickly. 

‘In less than 24 hours I had received my results after testing.  As a young mother it was extremely important to me to get these results quickly and I felt this service was easy and effective from the start of the process.  Thank you again and keep up the good work’, Sophie said.

Dianne, a chronic asthmatic, also reached out to say how efficient and simple the SMS service was.

“The SMS was fantastic – I was expecting a result in around 72 hours but I got it so quickly and easily in 24 hours. We used our registration code and bingo, there was my result,” Dianne said.

For more information about SMS test results​ visit the NSW Health Pathology website.

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Current as at: Thursday 23 July 2020
Contact page owner: Health Protection NSW