The Medical Office Building at the UP Health System - Marquette campus along West Baraga Avnue in Marquette is pictured.

MARQUETTE — UP Health System-Marquette announced Friday that it has developed an in-house molecular test to help diagnose patients and employees with COVID-19.

In an effort to help address limited COVID-19 testing capacity and provide more timely results for patients, UPHS-Marquette has been analyzing test results in its in-house laboratory for the past several weeks, a press release from UPHS-Marquette states.

This capability “greatly increases the scope and speed of COVID-19 testing available locally as compared with other commercial laboratories in the region,” officials said in the press release.

“Access to faster, more efficient test results translates to better care for patients and enhanced safety for health care workers on the front lines,” the press release states. “It also enables providers to make more informed decisions on how to treat patients and helps optimize the hospital’s supply of personal protective equipment.”

Due to state testing priority gudelines, in-house COVID-19 testing and analysis is limited to individuals who meet certain criteria, including health care workers; patients who have been admitted to a hospital; individuals presenting to the emergency department who are suspected to have COVID-19, or who will require hospitalization; and patients who require emergency surgery from high-risk facilities.

“As we continue to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, the availability of diagnostic testing is critical in helping to identify and control the spread of this illness,” Gar Atchison, chief executive officer of UPHS-Marquette, said in the press release. “Our in-house testing capabilities provide a 24-hour turnaround for results, compared to the average seven to 10 days for other external labs. This expedited process puts us ahead of the curve and helps ensure we can better serve our patients and support our staff.”

The in-house testing will also be used for patients who are scheduled for elective surgeries and procedures once those resume at the hospital.

“Our laboratory was able to bring testing for COVID-19 in-house because we have highly qualified staff members who appropriately adapted our equipment protocols and innovative technology to help meet this important need,” Polly Hockberger, UPHS-Marquette laboratory director, said in a press release. “We are pleased to be able to effectively leverage the advanced capabilities of our lab, especially during this public health emergency.”

This week also marks Medical Laboratory Professionals Week, an annual celebration of medical laboratory professionals and pathologists who play “a vital role in healthcare and patient advocacy,” officials said in the press release.

“Scientists across the world are intimately involved with COVID-19 testing, and UP Health System-Marquette is proud of the work that our healthcare heroes are conducting in our community,” the release states.

The UPHS-Marquette laboratory team consists of more than 115 professionals, who have a wide array of specialties in the areas of transfusion services, pathology, microbiology, chemistry, hematology, histology, cytogenetics, flow cytometry, phlebotomy and blood donation, according to the release.

For more information, visit www.mgh.org or call 906-449-3000.