Thread by @BauerJournalism

EXCLUSIVE: The Center for COVID Control opened pop-up testing sites across the US.

Now, it's temporarily closing amid federal+state investigations & mounting complaints.

I got a copy of the federal report. It says the chain wasted 40,000 tests — & more: blockclubchicago.org/2022/01/13/cen…

People going to Center for COVID Control sites have reported getting negatives — only to get a positive elsewhere. Others have never gotten results, or gotten them so late the test was useless. Some people who didn’t even test were still sent results.

blockclubchicago.org/2022/01/13/cen…

While that confusion has unfolded, Akbar Syed, who represents himself as a leader of the company, has posted on social media about buying luxury sports cars worth hundreds of thousands thanks to “covid money.”

blockclubchicago.org/2022/01/13/cen…

(Syed removed his posts, as well as other social media posts and videos, after we asked about them.)

The fed agency that oversees the company’s lab found “deficiencies."

It cited the lab for “immediate jeopardy,” noting it made mistakes that led to 41,196 PCR tests being unable to be processed and workers weren’t properly testing rapids.

blockclubchicago.org/2022/01/13/cen…

The agency also cited the chain for:
• Providing incorrect directions to customers self-administering rapids.
• Not reporting test results to state gov't.
• Failing to maintain confidentiality of patient info.
• Not tracking complaints.
• & more.

blockclubchicago.org/2022/01/13/cen…

Multiple state attorney general's offices told me they've received complaints about chain sites.

The Illinois Department of Public Health told me they're investigating complaints.

The Better Business Bureau has gotten complaints and is investigating.

blockclubchicago.org/2022/01/13/cen…

The chain's lab maintained a website that told EVERYONE who looked at it, including people who hadn't tested, they were negative.

No, its results were NOT customized to the viewer. It was always negative — & publicly viewable by anyone.

blockclubchicago.org/2022/01/13/cen…

Who are the folks behind this locally based business that is responsible for TONS of testing throughout the US?

A couple who, pre-pandemic, ran axe-throwing lounges. One of them also created wedding videos before they got into COVID testing.

blockclubchicago.org/2022/01/13/cen…

ALSO: Multiple sources told me some site workers told folks to say they don't have insurance, even if they do.

In those cases, the gov't is likely paying for those tests.

That could be creating a "harm" to the gov't, an expert said.

blockclubchicago.org/2022/01/13/cen…

The company's model — it gets paid by insurance/the fed gov't and pays site owners for each test they send in to be tested — also raises questions about if it's compliant w/ federal law, and it "is worth a heightened level of scrutiny," expert said.

blockclubchicago.org/2022/01/13/cen…

The bottom line: This is one of the biggest pop-up testing chains in the US, if not the biggest.

Many have turned to it for tests, trying to stay safe, only to question if their results are accurate & info is safe.

& Gov't agencies are finding concerns.

blockclubchicago.org/2022/01/13/cen…

We want to know: Have you been tested at a COVID-19 pop-up?

Please tell us about your experience: docs.google.com/forms/u/3/d/e/…