Project Beacon

Now a part of @concentricbygbw, expanding access to COVID-19 testing in Massachusetts and beyond.

[Project Beacon @Beacon_Testing]

A quick 🧵 about our appointments.

There are many places to get tested in MA, and many of them offer walk-ins.

Our sites are different: appointment-only so we can rapidly test as many as possible, taking the burden off those other sites so they can serve those most in need.

[Project Beacon @Beacon_Testing]

Heads up that our platform is having a few hiccups this evening, so you may experience some issues.

We're working hard on this, and rest assured we won't lose anyone's data or results.

We hope to have things back and working smoothly before you know it. ♥️

[Project Beacon @Beacon_Testing]

@BostonLady11 Usually overnight, if not the same evening. Good luck!

[Ginkgo Biosecurity @Ginkgo_Biosec]

Acquiring @Beacon_Testing builds on recent strategic partnerships with Eurofins' Clinical Enterprise, XpresCheck & CDC to support national COVID-19 monitoring programs -- together, we'll continue to deliver biosecurity tools at scale. @GenomeWeb reports: https://t.co/VtBOMlfAeh

[Jason Kelly @jrkelly]

Love love love when we have the chance to bring in a team that shares our long-term mission focus at @ginkgo in biosecurity ❤️❤️ Welcome @Beacon_Testing we're fortunate to have you on the team!! 🌱🧬$DNA

[Project Beacon @Beacon_Testing]

Our rag-tag team has worked over the last year and a half to build some of the leading testing programs in the nation. For the public, for schools, for business.

Now that work will live on as part of @Ginkgo's @concentricbygbw testing efforts nationwide.

https://t.co/5QwXmO6uvj

[Project Beacon @Beacon_Testing]

@LSCIII Hours vary daily depending on staff and availability, so we don’t post them anywhere.

Since we’re appointment-only, the hours really don’t matter. We’re committed to being open for your appointment time, so that’s the best way to judge things.

[Project Beacon @Beacon_Testing]

@alconti Yup, it’s not open yet. What time is your appointment?

[Project Beacon @Beacon_Testing]

The winter weather hits keep coming. In Lynn, storm winds have done significant damage to the tent, not to mention flooding from the storm surge. 🌊🌬️

We're closing Lynn for today. Where possible, staff is heading to other site and we're expanding availability at those.

[Project Beacon @Beacon_Testing]

@1Talyas1 Nope, we can't service anything without an active appointment. But check now, and you should be able to book for most of this afternoon, as long as you're using the same profile that was canceled earlier today.

If not, DM over the details and we can look.

[Project Beacon @Beacon_Testing]

Cold weather always throws some curveballs. Both our primary and backup generators are down at our Lynn site, so we're canceling appointments until we can get back online.

We definitely want to get testing in today before tomorrow's storm. The team's working as fast as possible!

[Project Beacon @Beacon_Testing]

@1Talyas1 I'd recommend rebooking for a later time today at Lynn.

We're really optimistic about being able to test today, and the credit on your account should let you book later at Lynn.

[Project Beacon @Beacon_Testing]

@BethRAvery Well, at least we can say we’re glad we’re able to make it look easy to test hundreds of people today at that site!

We try to test twice as many as most sites with half the staff at half the cost. Usually that means lines of 3-5 cars. Sometimes we miss one way or the other. 🤞

[Project Beacon @Beacon_Testing]

@BethRAvery Hi Beth!

The site was understaffed for this extra bonus day of testing, added recently.

We had extra staff turn out, so we hustled to add capacity later in the day – perhaps how you got a slot.

We don't seek a profit, but we're paid per test: if we don't do 'em, it's our loss.

[Project Beacon @Beacon_Testing]

@dilidoup Hi there! It varies a bit by day, how many samples our lab is processing, and what time the site closed. Weekend tests still tend to happen overnight, but weekday tests are a bit later.

In general, as ever, you can still expect results by the end of the day following your test.

[Project Beacon @Beacon_Testing]

A quick 🧵 about our appointments.

There are many places to get tested in MA, and many of them offer walk-ins.

Our sites are different: appointment-only so we can rapidly test as many as possible, taking the burden off those other sites so they can serve those most in need.

[Project Beacon @Beacon_Testing]

@RestlessShark Yup, wish there was more we could do. Still dozens of people trying to get appointments every second. We do have some hints in the thread below, but in general, it's just really hard right now, despite us adding extra days and hours as staffing permits:

https://t.co/t2EmzcsJt4

[Project Beacon @Beacon_Testing]

A quick 🧵 about our appointments.

There are many places to get tested in MA, and many of them offer walk-ins.

Our sites are different: appointment-only so we can rapidly test as many as possible, taking the burden off those other sites so they can serve those most in need.

[Project Beacon @Beacon_Testing]

@kmcpartyland If we don’t cancel your appointment, you can expect us to be ready for you.

[Project Beacon @Beacon_Testing]

With the impending winter storm, it's looking like a pretty rotten day for testing tomorrow. Especially at the outdoor sites, but even on the roads to get to indoor sites.

We'll be closed all day in Lynn. In Framingham, we'll close for the morning and see how it goes for PM.🤞🌨️

[Project Beacon @Beacon_Testing]

@BrianAke35 Yup, everyone needs a separate appt.

We've experimented with various processes; it turns out that families of four take about the same time as four individuals in the aggregate 🙃

We open slots having observed from data that we'll get a similar blend of families each day.

[Project Beacon @Beacon_Testing]

Most don't know the Express Testing sites we operate in MA are just part of what we do. Our software is used to power many other test locations – many private, most labeled with other names.

Our mission: help any site test as many as possible, efficiently, whether "ours" or not.

[Project Beacon @Beacon_Testing]

@sberryshuffle We hear you on that. We don't generally choose where our express sites operate–we're often given the location and parameters by the state/city.

We have drive-through sites in Revere and Lynn that, depending on traffic, aren't ridiculous drives from Framingham though.