AG Letitia James slaps Brooklyn-based LabQ with a warning

By Brooklyn Magazine Staff

If you’ve noticed that exceedingly long wait time for your Covid test results, you’re not alone.

LabQ Diagnostics has been issued a “warning” by New York Attorney General Letitia James, who is accusing the Brooklyn-based facility for misrepresenting the turnaround time for Covid-19 tests, just as the new Omicron variant is aggressively spreading.

James—to say nothing of thousands of frustrated New Yorkers, including this anonymous writer—has taken issue with the fact that LabQ’s tests are taking significantly longer than the 24 to 48 hours the vans and its website promise.

Some people, like yours truly, have waited as long as 96 hours to get their results back. (We were tested on Thursday afternoon and got our results Sunday morning.) Similar horror stories are flooding Twitter about waiting several days for their results, which is especially stinging after waiting hours in line for a PCR test.

Has anyone actually received any results from LabQ in the last three days? Testing process is great – but now in waiting land.

— Ashley C. Cotton (@AshleyCCotton) December 17, 2021

Does anybody know if this means a negative result or a pending result? Been stuck in this status for 5 days, despite #labq promising a 24-48 hour turnaround time. @nyc311 @NYCMayorsOffice @CDCgov @nycHealthy @NYCHealthCommr pic.twitter.com/g5REjGdcdz

— Jeremy Phillips (@JeremyJJP) December 19, 2021

when will my LabQ PCR test results return from the war?

— alyssugh (@alystentothis) December 17, 2021

This isn’t sitting well with James, who lashed the Brooklyn-based laboratory in a stern letter for “misleading statements” about its turnaround times.

“LabQ’s own website states, ‘Turnaround Time Matters,’ but so does being honest with consumers,” James wrote in a press release Tuesday. “LabQ and all other labs should ensure that they are giving consumers accurate information about when to expect test results.”

She ordered LabQ to update its website and van signage to provide “accurate information concerning turnaround times.” And, indeed, LabQ’s website was edited Tuesday to alert people they could wait as long as four days for results. It previously said it could take up to 48 hours.

James’ office also encourages irate patients to file a complaint with her office. We tried doing that but the website wasn’t loading, presumably with other angry customers wishing to write their own strongly worded statements about LabQ.

The warning comes as New York City is opening new Covid-19 testing sites including one just a few minutes away from our ill-fated test at Barclays. The new city-run site is opening at old Modell’s across from Atlantic Terminal.

Meanwhile, you’ll be glad to know we tested negative.