Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care - COVID-19 Provincial Testing Guidance
Public Health Ontario - COVID-19 Testing Guidelines
Public Health Ontario - COVID-19 Virus Test Requisition Form
Public Health Ontario - Requisition for Specimen Containers and Supplies
GBHU - COVID-19 NP Swab Order Form
Testing Turnaround Time (TAT)
Testing for COID-19 is performed 7 days a week at the London PHO Laboratory as required.
Turnaround time is up to 7 days. 60% of results are to be completed within 24 hours and 80% to be completed within 48 hours.
Note: Turnaround time will vary according to geographical location and proximity to the London PHO Laboratory. Testing centers may provide you with an expected turnaround time when they perform the test.
If necessary additional testing is conducted at the National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) in Winnipeg, which may increase the TAT.
STAT Testing
Testing for COVID-19 does not need to be sent as STAT specimens unless the result is needed to assist health-care providers in making swift patient care decisions in an urgent or emergency circumstance.
STAT samples must be shipped separately from routine specimens to a PHO Laboratory location that performs COVID-19 testing. Current PHO Laboratory testing locations include Toronto, Hamilton, Kingston, and Ottawa. Refer to specimen acceptance hours and testing schedules at PHO Laboratory COVID-19 testing locations.
For testing at PHO Laboratory Toronto, specimens must be sent to the shipping and receiving dock at 661 University Ave., Toronto, Ontario. For delivery instructions please see Directions to 661 University Shipping Dock for Clinical Samples
STAT samples must be placed in a clearly marked package indicating ‘STAT’ and handled in accordance with the Canadian Biosafety Standards and shipped in accordance with the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations.
Failure to ship separately will delay testing, primarily due to delays in transportation, and will be processed as a routine sample.