INFECTIOUS DISEASES

We empower you with home collection kits sent directly to your eligible patients.

With the rise in telehealth and the focus on keeping patients safe at home, we at Tempus have made it easy to order a home collection kit and send it directly to an eligible patient. Both you and your patient will typically get results within 12-24 hours of the time Tempus receives the sample at its lab.

OUR TESTING

Leveraging testing and clinical data against COVID-19

We are committed to using our advanced testing and analytics capabilities to support care management for COVID-19.

Our Tempus Nasal Sample Collection Kit and SalivaDirect™At-Home Collection Kit are FDA EUA Authorized
Sample is gathered through a gentle nasal swab or saliva collection
Tempus will bill the applicable insurance program for testing and report results to applicable public health authorities
Results are typically available within 12-24 hours after specimen receipt in our lab
Easy-to-use portal for ordering
Patients can quickly get results through the Tempus mobile app

GETTING STARTED

How to order a COVID-19 test through Tempus

Contact us to learn more or order a test.

Provider orders a home collection kit for their eligible patient through our online portal.
The applicable insurance program will be billed for the test and Tempus will handle required public health reporting.
Eligible patient receives kit and self-administers sample collection at home.
Overnight shipping is included to send the sample collection back to our lab.
Provider receives patient's results.
You and your patient will typically receive results within 12-24 hours.

WHY TEMPUS

Real-time COVID-19 detection

We’ve launched a diagnostic reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay for COVID-19. PCR testing is one of the testing options authorized by the FDA to detect and track the spread of COVID-19.

CAP-CLIA Certified Labs

Our results meet industry standards for clinical laboratory testing.

SIMPLE ORDER & RESULT DELIVERY

We deliver tests via overnight shipping and provide patients with a secure mobile app to receive results.

PEACE OF MIND

Fast turnaround time with over 2 million Covid tests run to date.

FDA AUTHORIZATION

Tempus’ COVID-19 tests are either validated in accordance with FDA policies or have received an EUA authorization from FDA.

The EUA authorized test: has not been FDA cleared or approved; has been authorized by FDA under an EUA for use by the authorized laboratories; has been authorized only for the detection of nucleic acid from SARS-CoV-2, not for any other viruses or pathogens; and is only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use of in vitro diagnostics for detection and/or diagnosis of COVID-19 under Section 564(b)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the authorization is terminated or revoked sooner.

The SalivaDirect™ EUA authorized test: has not been FDA cleared or approved; has been authorized by FDA under an EUA for use by the authorized laboratories; has been authorized only for the collection and maintenance of saliva specimens as an aid in the detection of nucleic acid from SARS-CoV-2, not for any other viruses or pathogens; and is only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use of medical devices under Section 564(b)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the declaration is terminated or authorization is revoked sooner.

QUESTIONS

Frequently asked questions

What kind of COVID-19 test does Tempus provide?

Tempus provides PCR tests for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA (the viral agent that causes COVID-19).

Tempus’ COVID-19 tests are either validated in accordance with FDA policies or have received an EUA authorization from FDA.

The EUA authorized, Tempus iC SARS-CoV-2 test:

has not been FDA cleared or approved;
has been authorized by FDA under an EUA for use by the authorized laboratories;
has been authorized only for the detection of nucleic acid from SARS-CoV-2, not for any other viruses or pathogens; and
is only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use of in vitro diagnostics for detection and/or diagnosis of COVID-19 under Section 564(b)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the authorization is terminated or revoked sooner.

The SalivaDirect™ EUA authorized test:

has not been FDA cleared or approved;
has been authorized by FDA under an EUA for use by the authorized laboratories;
has been authorized only for the collection and maintenance of saliva specimens as an aid in the detection of nucleic acid from SARS-CoV-2, not for any other viruses or pathogens; and
is only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use of medical devices under Section 564(b)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the declaration is terminated or authorization is revoked sooner.

What collection methods are available for testing?

Our at-home collection kit test offerings include nasal swab or saliva collection. We also have an in-office anterior nasal collection kit available.

How much does the test cost?

For patients with health insurance, Tempus bills insurers $120 for the test. Most insurers have waived patient responsibility and copays for COVID-19 diagnostic testing. For those without insurance, testing is available and covered as part of the U.S. COVID-19 Uninsured Program. More information on this program can be found here. For patients who prefer to pay directly, the test price is $120.

Can Tempus perform COVID-19 testing for my facility, company, or institution?

Thank you for your interest. Please send a brief description of your needs to covidsupport@tempus.com, and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

Can I get a Tempus COVID-19 test without a healthcare provider’s order?

At this time, Tempus performs COVID-19 testing only when ordered by a healthcare provider. We are currently unable to provide tests directly to patients.

When will I receive test results for a test I administered?

We deliver most results within 24 hours after the sample has been received in the lab. However, sometimes a delay can occur and we apologize for the inconvenience.

When will I receive test results for an at-home collection order?

Once the test has been ordered by the patient’s healthcare provider, the at-home collection kit is shipped to the patient the same day or next morning via overnight delivery. We deliver most results within 24 hours after the sample has been received in the lab. Patients should not collect their sample in the evening, or on the weekend, as this may result in an inability to process the sample due to shipping delays.

While we try to process all tests as quickly as possible, periods of high demand can lead to delayed turnaround times. In addition, there are always some tests that take longer than others for reasons outside of our control, for example due to shipping delays, sample quality issues, or otherwise inconclusive results.

What do the test results mean?

The Tempus COVID-19 PCR test has five possible results: Detected, Not Detected, Inconclusive, Invalid, or Rejected. The SalivaDirect™ COVID-19 PCR test has four possible results: Detected, Not Detected, Invalid, Rejected. Summary information about each test result is available in the sample reports available under the resources tab.

For additional information about known and potential risks and benefits of COVID-19 tests, please visit the FDA fact sheet for healthcare providers (Tempus) / FDA fact sheet for healthcare providers (SalivaDirect™). More guidance and information is available on the CDC’s website at cdc.gov/nCoV.

I have an urgent case. Is it possible to rush this order?

Tempus understands the urgency and importance of every test. We try to process every test as quickly as possible. At this time, we are following federal and state testing recommendations for prioritization and cannot prioritize based on individual requests.

How can I correct patient information on an order I placed?

Please provide details about the required correction to covidsupport@tempus.com.

For all other questions, please email covidsupport@tempus.com and we will respond as soon as we can.

Are there details provided to providers and patients on how to collect the specimen and return it to the lab?

Yes, our kits contain detailed collection instructions. For reference, our home collection kit instructions are available on our patient page. SalivaDirectTM Professional Setting collections instructions can be viewed here.