Rapid COVID-19 testing to land soon at the Charleston airport

Charleston, South Carolina – Something new is about to land at Charleston International Airport – rapid COVID-19 testing.

The rapid COVID-19 testing kits could be welcome news for travelers who might want some extra assurance that they’re healthy and ready to fly.

Currently, a mobile testing site at the airport garage has been available since Monday, but it takes a day or two to get results.

We are told 250 people got tested there yesterday alone.

But the game changer rapid COVID-19 tests will be available next week, Charleston leaders are hoping.

Charleston County Aviation Authority CEO Elliott Summey says, “I think that’s going be, until we have a rampant distribution of vaccines, I think this is the wave of the future.”

Right now 24-48 hour testing is offered at the new parking deck on the fourth floor.

But starting as soon as next week the airport hopes MUSC will be able to offer rapid testing on site.

“My guess is at some point you may have to have health passport to get on an airplane, if that’s what it takes to get us moving again, then sign me up,” says Summey.

MUSC hasn’t confirmed the plans for us, but Summey says he’s been in constant communication with the hospital system.

This could be welcome news for holiday travelers like Missy Durban.

“I just felt like I was running into roadblocks everywhere I went,” says Durban.

She says she ran into trouble at one of the Roper St. Francis urgent care sites.

They said she needed a doctor’s note first or had to go inside.

“Which is what I was trying to avoid doing and register to the Roper St. Francis system and come back out here and get tested,” says Durban.

Roper confirmed patients need an assessment to get tested to track cases.

ABC News 4 saw very little traffic at a DHEC Hanahan testing site.

We’re told most people who did show up had an appointment.

As far as the airport site, Summey says he’d like to transition the COVID testing site to a vaccination site as soon as they are available.