Gilroy Garlic Festival Gourmet Alley makes its Drive-Thru Debut This July

 For four decades, the Gilroy Garlic Festival’s famous Gourmet Alley has attracted strolling visitors with its pungent aroma, enticing flavors, jaw-dropping pyrotechnics, and community spirit. 

Gilroy, CA, June 08, 2021 - Now imagine the world’s most delicious alleyway as a pre-ordered drive-thru, experiencing the “Taste of the Festival”. 

Planned over two weekends of July 23-25 and July 30-Aug. 1 at Gilroy Presbyterian Church, this summer’s new drive-thru format will allow guests to enjoy the spirit and flavor of Gourmet Alley. Fans will be able to pre-order some of their favorites, from juicy pepper steak sandwiches to succulent scampi, world-renowned garlic bread, and much more. 

 

“We have all been confronted with so many changes due to COVID-19,” said Tom Cline, current president of the association, which has distributed more than $12 million to community groups since 1979. “There is a great community desire to see some reminders of Festival past that highlight our community, our commitment to our non-profit partners, and, of course, our love of Garlic.” 

The drive-thru Gourmet Alley will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Fridays and from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. 

The menu includes the following: 

·  Steak Combo: Pepper Steak Sandwich, Shrimp Scampi,

World-Famous Garlic Bread, $25 

·  Sausage Combo: Sausage Sandwich, Shrimp Scampi,

World-Famous Garlic Bread, $25 

·  Pepper Steak Sandwich, $14 

·  Sausage Sandwich, $14

 ·  World-Famous Garlic Bread: Half Loaf, $10 

·  Garlic Fries, $10 

·  Shrimp Scampi, $10 

·  Bottled Water, Soda, $5 

The Farm-To-Table Dinner dinner at Fortino Winery (4525 Hecker Pass Highway) takes place on the evening of Saturday, July 24. The Garlic Festival Golf Classic will be held Friday, July 30 at Gilroy Golf Course (2695 Hecker Pass Road). Additional details will be posted on the association’s website at www.gilroygarlicfestivalassociation.com. 

About the association

The Gilroy Garlic FestivalAssociation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has distributed more than $12 million to the community through its annual, family-friendly celebration of the famous bulb since 1979. Local nonprofits participating in the festival have raised millions more. The Gilroy Garlic Festival Association aims to be a chain that links together residents, businesses, nonprofits, faith groups, schools, and other local institutions in a collaborative and supportive expression of “community.”

GILROY GARLIC FESTIVAL ASSOCIATION, INC.

PO Box 2311

Gilroy, CA 95021 

Email: mediarelations@gilroygarlicfestival.com

Phone:  408.842.1625 | Fax: 408.842.7337

 

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
The Buzz PR, LLC.
Salinas, CA
(831) 747-7455
http://www.gilroygarlicfestivalassociation.com

ARCpoint Labs Offer Affordable, Accurate and Convenient COVID-19 Saliva Tests

  Looking for more affordable, more accurate and more convenient COVID-19 saliva tests with a 48-hour turnaround for test results? 

Monterey, CA, November 10, 2020 - Looking for more affordable, more accurate and more convenient COVID-19 saliva tests with a 48-hour turnaround for test results? ARCpoint Labs of Monterey Bay has saliva tests that are as or even more accurate than the gold standard nasal swab. You can get tested at our labs with convenient drive-through testing or pick up the test to self-administer at home. We can also mail you a test pack! It’s easy to administer, requires no blood sample or nasal swab, just saliva. To make an appointment online to get the test, go to labtestmonterey.com. For information, call (831) 324-0772 or email us at monterey@arcpointlabs.com . Cost for the test is $155 at the lab, or $200 to be shipped to your home.

ARCpoint Contact:

ARCpoint Labs | 831-324-0772 | 24560 Silver Cloud Court, #103 Monterey, CA 93940 | Website

 

Contact: 
Marci Bracco Cain 
The Buzz PR LLC 
831-747-7455 
marci@thebuzzpr.net 
https://www.TheBuzzPR.net

Monterey Symphony Kicks Off Balcony Sessions on Friday, August 28th

The Monterey Symphony (MSO), after postponing its entire 2020-2021 season due to COVID-19, has scheduled a series of solo performances highlighting the talents of the orchestra.

Carmel, CA, August 19, 2020 – The Monterey Symphony (MSO), after postponing its entire 2020-2021 season due to COVID-19, has scheduled a series of solo performances highlighting the talents of the orchestra. These 30-minute performances will be live streamed and available to watch on the Symphony’s website and social media. E-news subscribers to the Symphony’s mailings will also have direct access.

The direct link can be found here: https://vimeo.com/448146767

The series kicks off Friday, August 28th at 4 PM with Principal Bass Trombone Will Baker and is sponsored by Monterey Private Wealth.

The first session will take place at Hampton Court (the Symphony’s new offices) at the corner of 7th and San Carlos in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Mr. Baker will perform from a balcony, following all social distancing protocol. Three other solo performances will occur at Hampton, along with three at different venues in Carmel, including Golden Bough Theatre and the Winfield Gallery on Dolores and one in Monterey at MyMuseum. A total of seven solo performances will take place before the end of the year.

“The idea of the solo performer is a pretty spot-on image of the time we’re living in,” said Executive Director Nicola Reilly. “And, we so seldom have an opportunity to showcase our individual players, since we focus on the big orchestra. We really had to adapt and try and bring some music to our community. It’s great to use our office space, and we’re so grateful to the city of Carmel for getting involved and excited about this project. We also wanted to showcase our partner organization venues.”

The Symphony has also partnered with Manzoni Vineyards, also in Hampton Court, so sponsors can attend these sessions. Although no tickets will be sold, sponsorship opportunities are available.

“We wanted to find a way to support our artists, as well as the creative people behind the cameras – videographers, graphic designers, backstage crew,” says Reilly.

About the Artist:

Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Will Baker is one of the most sought after young Bass Trombonists working today. He is the Principal Bass Trombonist of the Monterey Symphony and his musicianship has taken him all over the world, including stints with the San Francisco Symphony, Detroit Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Malaysian Philharmonic, and Burning Man 2018 with the ArtHaus Collective. Before moving to Northern California, Will was the premier bass trombonist in the state of Iowa, performing as the tenured member of Orchestra Iowa from 2013-17 and the Des Moines Symphony since 2014-18. In 2016, while artist in residence with the Southeast Iowa Symphony (SEISO), Will commissioned and premiered a new bass trombone concerto by composer Robert Tindle titled At Sixty Miles An Hour. In 2018, Will premiered the Wind Ensemble arrangement with Travis Cross and the UCLA Wind Ensemble. He is a faculty member of Las Positas College and the Fredericksburg Brass Institute, and is a founding member of the Des Moines Low Brass Triumvirate (DMLBT).

Will earned a Masters Degree in Bass Trombone performance at Northwestern University where he studied with Michael Mulcahy, Randall Hawes, Peter Ellefson, and Tim Higgins. He graduated Cum Laude from UCLA with a BA in music performance, studying Euphonium and Bass Trombone with Patrick Sheridan. It was Mr. Sheridan that inspired Will to forge a career in music, and for this Pat will always be one of his favorite people in the world.

The full schedule can be found below and on the Monterey Symphony website. People interested in learning more about sponsoring can contact Nicola Reilly directly, nreilly@montereysymphony.org

2020 Line Up:

August 28th - Will Baker, bass trombone @ Hampton Court

Sponsored by: Monterey Private Wealth


September 18th – Genie Wie, violin and Adele Kearns, cello @ Hampton Court

September 25th - Valerie Bengal and Vlad K., violas @ Golden Bough Theatre
Sponsored by: Gary and Carolyn Bjorklund

October 16th – Sarah Lee, violin @ Hampton Court

October 23rd - Saul Richmond-Rakerd, cello @ Hampton Court

November 20th - Isaac Pastor-Chernak, cello @ Winfield Gallery
Sponsored by: Beverly and Lyman Hamilton

December 18th - Alicia Mastromonaco, horn + singers + poetry @ MyMuseum

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
https://www.montereysymphony.org/

ARCpoint Labs of Monterey Bay Offers Employers Drug Testing, Background Screening and Physical Exams for Employees

ARCpoint Labs’ network of experts can help ensure employers that they are staying compliant with federal and state drug testing regulations.

Monterey, CA, August 14, 2020 — While ARCpoint Labs of Monterey Bay is the foremost local lab offering COVID-19, it also offers accurate, reliable and confidential testing for employers requiring drug & alcohol testing, background screening, health & wellness testing, and Department of Transportation compliance services.

ARCpoint Labs’ network of experts can help ensure employers that they are staying compliant with federal and state drug testing regulations. ARCpoint Labs can provide employers with secure, online technology that gives them quick access to their company's drug testing background check documentation. They can get the information they need, when they need it, with real-time updates on ARCpoint’s easy-to-use platform.

ARCpoint has a national network of industry experts can help employers, whether they have questions about marijuana or CBD and how they affect their company’s drug-testing policy or needing to manage the entire program.

As local industry experts, ARCpoint takes pride in providing the information employers need to feel comfortable with how they are leveraging ARCpoint Labs services to effectively serve their employees’ and candidates’ needs.

No matter the industry, background screening is a necessary part of pre-employment on-boarding process to ensure the safety and security of the workplace. Background screening is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Employers need to select the right type of background screen for the job, and then they need to know what you can do with that information. ARCpoint Labs partners with employers to help navigate the various types of background screens available, so they can determine the right screens for their company.

ARCpoint’s background screening services include the following types of employment considerations:

County vs. National Criminal Record
Credit Report (Including Bankruptcies)
Driving Record
Employment Verification
Education, Certifications, and Licenses
Sex Offender Registry List
Government Watch List

ARCpoint can also help employers develop a health and wellness program that fits their needs to keep their workplace and their employees healthy. corporate wellness program can be as simple or as complex as you would like.

Here are just some of the ways a strategically designed wellness program can benefit a company:

Decreases of up to 80% in lost work days
Decreases of up to 64% in modified duty days
Decreases of up to 50% in workers’ compensation premiums
Increases in on-the-job satisfaction and employee retention

ARCpoint also gives employers access to ARCpoint MD Telehealth, a trusted and timely medical service that saves employers money and time while improving employees’ health and common illnesses. Telehealth services provide employers with:

Convenience: 24/7/365: Why leave home to drive to your doctor’s office and waste time in a waiting room? Doctors are available by phone and online, whenever employees need them with an average call-back time of only 15 minutes!
Access: Whether you are at home, working, or traveling, ARCpoint’s U.S.-based and board certified physicians are only a click or call away.
Affordability: With only one low monthly cost and $0 copay/consultation fees, you and your entire household will have access to ARCpoint services. ARCpoint MD is the smart alternative to costly Urgent Care visits, while also helping to redirect non-emergency ER visits.

Companies that fall under the Department of Transportation’s rule 49 CFR Part 40 are subject to strict and often confusing regulations. Most companies need a partner who can help them navigate the complex regulations, ensure they are always compliant with federal regulations and allow them to focus on their business.

ARCpoint Labs has been an expert in DOT and federally mandated testing for more than 20 years. ARCpoint helps navigate the regulations that apply to employers so they don’t have to worry about DOT compliance.

ARCpoint’s DOT compliance team has the knowledge and experience to help break down what DOT changes mean for a company and help them develop an actionable plan so they remain compliant without worrying about penalties.

For more information, call (831) 324-0772. You always speak directly to a local testing expert at ARCpoint Labs.

ABOUT ARCPOINT LABS
ARCpoint Labs is a full-service national third-party provider and administrator of accurate, reliable, and confidential diagnostic testing for individuals, companies, and legal and healthcare professionals. ARCpoint Labs has been in the drug and alcohol testing business for over 18 years, and our staff has over 60 years of combined industry experience. ARCpoint Labs has over 100 locations across the country with an additional 18 locations slated to open within the next 12 months. For more information on ARCpoint Labs, visit www.arcpointlabs.com.

ARCpoint Labs of Monterey Bay is an independently owned ARCpoint Labs business, part of a Greenville, South Carolina-based franchise. The Smith family of Monterey, brothers Spenser and Bryant and their parents Belle and Randy, established the company in 2018.

ARCpoint Labs of Monterey Bay
24560 Silver Cloud Court, #103 Monterey, CA 93940
Phone: (831) 324-0772
Email: monterey@arcpointlabs.com

Website: www.arcpointlabs.com

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.arcpointlabs.com

ARCpoint Labs of Monterey Bay Expands Its COVID-19 Rapid Testing Capabilities

ARCpoint Labs has added 10 testing machines to its lab, with the long-term goal of offering businesses and schools on-site testing so they can get quicker results.

Monterey, CA, August 14, 2020 — ARCpoint Labs of Monterey Bay has expanded its rapid testing capabilities, adding new testing equipment, allowing 24-hour turnaround for test results, perfect for businesses, schools and individuals who need quick results.

ARCpoint Labs has added 10 testing machines to its lab, with the long-term goal of offering businesses and schools on-site testing so they can get quicker results.

ARCpoint has also expanded its staff to handle the increased workload, now with 10 people working in the lab alone. ARCpoint is also hiring now to meet demand.

ARCpoint will also be opening a branch in Salinas in the fall.

The 24-hour turnaround test is a live virus test, Antigen Rapid Test, which requires a nasal or other swab, a 94% true positive rate, 100% true negative rate, no doctor’s order is required, $130. A viral test identifies whether you have the current SARS-CoV-2 infection in your body.

If you have questions about ARCpoint Labs COVID-19 testing, go to www.labtestmonterey.com or call (831) 324-0772. You always speak directly to a local testing expert at ARCpoint Labs.

ABOUT ARCPOINT LABS
ARCpoint Labs is a full-service national third-party provider and administrator of accurate, reliable, and confidential diagnostic testing for individuals, companies, and legal and healthcare professionals. ARCpoint Labs has been in the drug and alcohol testing business for over 18 years, and our staff has over 60 years of combined industry experience. ARCpoint Labs has over 100 locations across the country with an additional 18 locations slated to open within the next 12 months. For more information on ARCpoint Labs, visit www.arcpointlabs.com.

ARCpoint Labs of Monterey Bay is an independently owned ARCpoint Labs business, part of a Greenville, South Carolina-based franchise. The Smith family of Monterey, brothers Spenser and Bryant and their parents Belle and Randy, established the company in 2018.

ARCpoint Labs of Monterey Bay
24560 Silver Cloud Court, #103 Monterey, CA 93940
Phone: (831) 324-0772
Email: monterey@arcpointlabs.com

Website: www.arcpointlabs.com
COVID-19 Appointments: labtestmonterey.com

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.arcpointlabs.com

Kindness Monterey Campaign to Help Restaurants and Those in Need Due to COVID-19 Emergency Expanding Its Campaign

Kindness Monterey, a campaign initiated to help individuals in need and restaurants that have been challenged as the result of the coronavirus emergency

Monterey, CA, August 03, 2020 — Kindness Monterey, a campaign initiated to help individuals in need and restaurants that have been challenged as the result of the coronavirus emergency, is expanding its campaign to include a gofundme page, new partners working to get sponsors and donations, assistance to restaurants wanting to set up gift cards on their websites and organizing two streaming concerts to raise funds.

KindnessMonterey.com is excited to announce that we have partnered with a CSUMB initiative called GetVirtual.org. GetVirtual gives local businesses affected by COVID-19 the tools to adapt to the virtual landscape and extend their businesses online. Their program pairs local businesses, who need help with online tools like gift cards, with college students who are tech savvy and want business experience. It's a win-win. Businesses get help for free and the students get college credit.

KindnessMonterey.org will partner with GetVirtual’s CSU Monterey Bay chapter starting the week of July 20, 2020. Maren Elwood, (co-founder of KindnessMonterey.com), will work with Brad Barbaeu (GetVirtual CSUMB Program Director) and Kenneth Olsen (CSUMB GetVirtual Program Manager) to pull together a team of students who will assist our local restaurants to offer an online gift card option on their website.

Kindness Monterey has teamed up with The American Institute of Wine & Food (AIWF), Monterey Bay Chapter (https://www.aiwfmb.org/), which has agreed to be the campaign’s 501(c)3 non-profit fiscal sponsor. Kindness Monterey can now accept donations of $250 or more from corporate sponsors or individuals through their fiscal sponsor — AIWF-Monterey Bay Chapter, and those donating at that level or higher will then be able to get a tax write off. Chef/caterer and cookbook author, Mary Chamberlin, Emeritus Chapter Chair/National Vice Chair of AIWF – Monterey Bay Chapter, has been instrumental in making this happen.

Kindness Monterey has also set up a GoFundMe page at: https://www.Gofundme.com/manage/kindness-monterey. You can also access the page with the “Donate” button on the Kindness Monterey website (kindnessmonterey.com) or Facebook page (facebook.com/kindnessmonterey).

The GoFundMe page was set up primarily for individuals to give smaller donations to help fund the campaign. It will enable the Kindness Monterey team to spread the word about this important program that benefits so many local community members through print advertising and social media. The advertising will urge everyone in the community to go the KindnessMonterey.com website and purchase restaurant gift cards. Please note that any donation under $250 is not tax-deductible.

For individuals or businesses who do not have a specific person in mind and would still like to make a donation to the Kindness Monterey program, these GoFundMe funds will be used to purchase gift cards for the Food Bank For Monterey County, to support the Boys and Girls Clubs of Monterey County and other worthy local community members in need.

Kindness Monterey has also teamed up with marketing and PR professional, Wendy Brickman (https://www.brickmanmarketing.com), who will reach out to local businesses and individuals to secure sponsorships to help fund the campaign.

Sponsorships will allow Kindness Monterey to accomplish five important goals:

1. Fund its campaign enabling Kindness Monterey to do widespread marketing through social media, print advertising, Constant Contact and various Chamber of Commerce email blasts.

2. Allow Kindness Monterey to buy restaurant gift cards and distribute them to organizations such as the Food Bank For Monterey County, Chambers of Commerce, small business owners whose companies are being challenged by COVID-19, first responders, musicians, displaced hospitality workers, including those working in the restaurants, field workers, etc.

3. Provide matching funds to offer 2-for-1 deals to generate additional sales for gift card promotions.

4. Allow Kindness Monterey to donate six grab-and-go weekend meals to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Monterey County for every $1,000 raised through sponsorships and GoFundMe.

5. Fund the two online Music Care-A-Thon concerts produced by musician and promoter, Kiki Wow, on Aug. 23rd and another date in the fall to be determined, as well as other fundraising events.

Online Care-A-Thon
The first online Music Care-A-Thon concert produced by musician and promoter Kiki Wow will be held from 6-9 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020. This concert will feature nine to 12 local musicians, short video interviews with local restaurant owners, and a call-out to donate to the gofundme campaign. The link to the concert will be available on the website 24 hours after its initial airing as well as their kindness Monterey facebook page.

Musicians confirmed so far include: Alisa Fineman & Kimball, Kenny Stahl & Bob Burnett, Lee Durley, Robert Turner, Dave Holodiloff Trio, Dennis Murphy, Kiki & Wowettes, Hayley Jane, Mira Malcom and Michael Martinez, Richard Bryant & Kyle Kovalik, and Roger Eddy & Bruce Forman. KRML community radio will also be doing interviews during the livestream and on-air.

The concert will be aired on the Kindness Monterey Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/kindnessmonterey.

Kindness Monterey will continue to provide as long as there is a need in our community. For more information, go to: info@kindnessmonterey.com, like Kindness Monterey on its Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/kindnessmonterey, or call Annee Martin at 831-236-5618; Maren Elwood at 831-238-5503; or Kiki Wow at 831-235-7662. Or, go to the website at: kindnessmonterey.com.

The Kindness Monterey campaign was created by local businesswomen Annee Martin and Maren Elwood, and the website, www.kindnessmonterey.com launched on July 8, 2020.

The pay-it-forward gift card campaign to help Monterey Peninsula restaurants encourages generosity from the community by purchasing these gift cards to give to family, friends, neighbors, musicians, service providers, small business owners, field workers, frontline medical personnel and first responders. Martin believes that not only are you helping restaurants stay alive and letting them know they are loved and supported by their community, but by paying it forward, you are lifting the spirits and hopes of our entire community.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.kindnessmonterey.com

Back-to-Work COVID-19 Testing Packages Available at ARCpoint Labs of Monterey Bay for Local Businesses and Companies

All COVID-19 testing performed at ARCpoint Labs is FDA-authorized by the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), and is performed in credentialed Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)-certified laboratories.

Monterey, CA, May 26, 2020 — ARCpoint Labs of Monterey Bay, the foremost lab doing COVID-19 testing in Monterey County, is now offering local companies and businesses COVID-19 testing so they can be prepared for phased-in back-to-work orders from the state.

ARCpoint now has back-to-work packages to help businesses open safely, implement preventative measures and instill confidence in employees that they will be safe when they go to work and that consumers will be safe when they go to these businesses. All COVID-19 testing performed at ARCpoint Labs is FDA-authorized by the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), and is performed in credentialed Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)-certified laboratories.

Testing packages, which can be different depending on the type of business and number of employees, can include:

>Three types of testing for COVID-19, one PCR (swab test) that tests for virus itself and two lab-based antibody tests.
>Forms to document the testing.
>Results of tests and explanation of results.
>Sample letter to use for businesses to announce employee testing.
>How to follow up to employees after test results come in.
>Discussion of any follow-up testing that may be necessary.

>On-site and on-call mobile units to perform testing for hiring events, back-to-work testing, or emergency response.

>Expedited turnaround times available.

ARCpoint can also consult with businesses through Zoom video conferencing to go over what's available to them.

The tests administered by ARCpoint are the most accurate and reliable on the market today, according to ARCpoint Lab Director Spenser Smith. Businesses and their employees do not have to have symptoms of the virus or to be referred by a doctor to get the tests. Smith does recommend, however, that business owners and employees consult with their primary care physicians before testing.

"We're not competing with other companies who are preparing businesses to open by offering plans for safe practices, we're coming from the lab perspective, because every reopening needs a testing component," said Smith. "There are not a lot of facilities in Monterey County doing lab tests. Anybody can get a test from us, so working with a lab directly makes it easier and more affordable to include testing in a safe and responsible back-to-work strategy.”

Smith said his lab will not only relay results to employers and their employees, they will explain what different results mean, and offer best practices on how to use results to make fact-based decisions to enhance employee and customer safety.

"It's a delicate balancing act between giving results and offering advice," Smith said.

Any questions or concerns about such things as preventative measures, contact tracing and quarantining should be directed to the Monterey County Health Department, he added.

Smith said that ARCpoint can also do the testing at a company's place of work, which is convenient for businesses and companies with a large number of employees.

For more information on the Back-to-Work package, call ARCpoint at (831) 324-0772. To make an appointment to be tested, go to: labtestmonterey.com.

ARCpoint Labs of Monterey Bay is located at 24560 Silver Cloud Court, #103, in Monterey. ARCpoint Labs is an independently owned ARCpoint Labs business, part of a Greenville, South Carolina-based franchise.

Smith said ARCpoint is now offering two versions of the lab-based COVID-19 antibody test: a single antibody test which detects only the long-term antibody IgG; and a triple antibody test which looks for IgM, IgG, and IgA to get the most complete and reliable information.

(Note: Antibodies are produced by the immune system to fight antigen like SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. IgM refers to those antibodies that are produced immediately after an exposure to the disease, while IgG refers to a later response. IgG generally confers protection to a patient so far as a particular virus is concerned. IgA is an antibody that plays a crucial role in the immune function of mucous membranes, such as the lungs, sinuses, stomach, and intestines. The amount of IgA produced in association with mucosal membranes is greater than all other types of antibody combined.)

ARCpoint is also offering the so-called RT-PCR tests (also known as a rRT-PCR test), which involves a nasal swab to test for the coronavirus itself.

ARCpoint Labs of Monterey Bay, which Smith started with his family in 2018, is one of more than 100 diagnostic testing lab franchises across the U.S. It has partnerships with leading medical labs around the country, allowing it to offer cutting-edge testing solutions from many labs for any need, including the latest and most reliable COVID-19 testing available.

Some of the antibody tests that have been rushed to the market have experienced unreliable results, but Smith said he is confident that the newest COVID-19 antibody tests offered by the lab, which have achieved FDA authorization, are of high quality.

"Independent scientific studies performed around the country continue to show that, while antibody testing is not perfect, it does provide valuable information for individuals as well as for leaders and public health officials to make decisions," Smith said. "The latest FDA-authorized tests authored by such companies as Abbott and Roche have been showing accuracy characteristics that truly take antibody testing to the next level of reliability and usefulness."

Turnaround time for the results of the tests remains 3-5 days, but may be expedited, Smith said. The new lab-based COVID-19 antibody tests could change the way people and businesses are reacting to the pandemic, providing a path toward normalcy for Americans.

Media note: ARCpoint Co-Owner and Labs Lab Director Spenser Smith is available for media interviews. Please contact Marci Bracco Cain at (831) 747-7455 to set up an interview.

ABOUT ARCPOINT LABS
ARCpoint Labs is a full-service national third-party provider and administrator of accurate, reliable, and confidential diagnostic testing for individuals, companies, and legal and healthcare professionals. ARCpoint Labs has been in the drug and alcohol testing business for over 18 years, and our staff has over 60 years of combined industry experience. ARCpoint Labs has over 100 locations across the country with an additional 18 locations slated to open within the next 12 months. For more information on ARCpoint Labs, visit www.arcpointlabs.com.

ARCpoint Labs of Monterey Bay is an independently owned ARCpoint Labs business, part of a Greenville, South Carolina-based franchise. The Smith family of Monterey, brothers Spenser and Bryant and their parents Belle and Randy, established the company in 2018.

ARCpoint Labs of Monterey Bay
24560 Silver Cloud Court, #103 Monterey, CA 93940
Phone: (831) 324-0772
Email: monterey@arcpointlabs.com
Website: www.arcpointlabs.com
COVID-19 Appointments: labtestmonterey.com

> On-site and on-call mobile testing units for hiring events, routine testing, or incident response.

> Rapid turnaround times available.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.arcpointlabs.com

ARCpoint Labs of Monterey Bay Introduces Lab-Based COVID-19 Antibody Test

The test marks a step forward in COVID-19 research; reveals whether asymptomatic patients have already been infected, suggesting potential immunity

Monterey, CA, April 20, 2020 — ARCpoint Labs of Monterey Bay, one of more than 100 diagnostic testing lab franchises across the U.S., has announced a new lab-based COVID-19 antibody test that could change the way people and businesses are reacting to the pandemic, providing a path toward normalcy for Americans.

ARCpoint Labs of Monterey Bay is offering up to 90 appointments per day to members of the public starting April 20th, available via the website labtestmonterey.com.

“We won't be able to do the finger-stick version of the antibody test any longer, but we switched to a version of the test that uses a whole tube of blood from the arm, is more accurate and sophisticated, has earlier detection, and is considered by doctors and health professionals to be a big step forward in medical usefulness,” said ARCpoint of Monterey Bay co-owner and lab director Spenser Smith. “This test is a new and improved version that we are rolling out to continue our embrace of the newest testing technologies for COVID-19.”

Smith said the downside of the new tests is that it takes longer to perform, can’t be done in a drive-through setting and is more expensive, at $150 as opposed to the $68.31 cost of the finger-prick test cost. But the arm-draw test is more reliable and sophisticated and has shown to be more accurate than the finger-prick tests, which was rushed into service nationally and has shown to have a high rate of inaccuracy compared to the arm-draw tests.

In mid-March, the FDA issued a policy that allowed for manufacturers and laboratories to create, distribute and use rapid serological (antibody) tests without requiring an Emergency Use Authorization to allow more people to have access to tests amid the pandemic. ARCpoint began using point-of-care tests that gave results within 10 minutes, to great success in its franchised locations across the U.S., including the Monterey lab.

On or around April 8, however, the FDA added additional clarification to the policy, requiring tests to be performed in high-complexity labs. This new wrinkle led ARCpoint to partner with Access Medical, a high-complexity laboratory, to offer a lab-based serological test as part of its ongoing effort to expand access to the most innovative COVID-19 testing available.

The test, which detects SAR-CoV-2 antibodies — specialized immune proteins the body produces in reaction to the COVID-19 virus — may reveal whether or not an asymptomatic individual has already been infected with the virus.

For the vast majority of viruses, antibodies signal immunity, meaning asymptomatic individuals who test positive are likely resistant to or functionally immune to the novel coronavirus. As research continues and access to testing improves, public health authorities expect reliable antibody testing to be a key part of recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.

By confirming the presence of antibodies in some individuals, the test can restore confidence and provide relief for Americans whose lives have been upended by social-distancing measures. Crucially, it will also provide a tool for businesses — particularly those businesses deemed “essential,” whose employees regularly interact with potential carriers like healthcare workers and grocery store employees — to minimize risk for employees at work.

“This could be a major development in terms of understanding how widespread this disease has actually been,” said Dr. Chris Cherubino, Medical Director for ARCpoint Franchise Group. “Because we currently have no idea how many people may have recovered from and be immune to the virus, everyone is forced to take the strictest precautions; as a result, much of the country has been shut down. By providing antibody tests, we can begin to build a body of evidence and hopefully restore some measure of normalcy for people and businesses as the fight to contain the coronavirus continues.”

These high-complexity immunoassay antibody tests require a simple blood draw; samples are submitted to a lab for analysis and returned in two to five days. Beyond the result for the consumer, these lab-based tests make a greater impact in the fight against COVID-19 because blood samples and results are reviewed by scientists, who can use the data to guide future research.

In an effort to bring the test to a diverse group of people in the local communities it serves, ARCpoint labs of Monterey Bay is beginning to offer appointments for this test to members of the public via an online appointment-making website, located at labtestmonterey.com. The lab is also able to make arrangements with critical businesses, first responding agencies, and other organizations to test staff directly during onsite or exclusive testing events.

“Because this is a new virus, regulations are constantly changing, and ARCpoint is adapting to those changes to provide the best testing solutions in real time. If and when the FDA begins issuing EUAs for the rapid point-of-care serological tests, we will offer them again, but are currently focusing our efforts on the lab-based tests so as to not leave our franchisees and their communities without a solution,” said John Constantine, President and CEO of ARCpoint Franchise Group. “As a country, we don’t have access to good statistical information about how widespread the virus is. The more tests that can be conducted, the better that data will be. The better the data, the better decision-making can happen at a local and federal level. Our antibody test will provide a glimpse into the full scope of this virus. We are working with partners who are developing a quantitative test that will indicate how much of the antibody is present in a large sample of individuals, which will help guide future research of how we treat and prevent this virus.”

Dr. Cherubino adds, “It is very important to understand that this test will not tell you if you have the virus currently. This test is only to determine if you may have had the virus in the past and have recovered.”

With 100 locations across the U.S., each with the capacity to administer several dozen tests per day, ARCpoint Labs will be able to reach a wide swath of patients quickly.

“In a crisis of this magnitude, there is not going to be a single solution that suddenly brings everything back to normal. Still, it’s hard to overstate the impact this test may have in terms of allowing people to get back into the world and providing crucial insights into the nature of the virus,” Constantine said. “We are proud to be one of the first to introduce this kind of test widely in the U.S., but mostly we are just excited to play a small role in providing the first step in getting some relief in this difficult chapter.”

MEDIA CONTACT: Marci Bracco Cain, (831) 747-7455

Media note: ARCpoint Co-Owner and Labs Lab Director Spenser Smith is available for media interviews. Please contact Marci Bracco Cain at (831) 747-7455 to set up an interview.

ABOUT ARCPOINT LABS
ARCpoint Labs is a full-service national third-party provider/administrator of accurate, reliable, and confidential diagnostic testing for individuals, companies, and legal and healthcare professionals. ARCpoint Labs has been in the drug and alcohol testing business for over 18 years, and our staff has over 60 years of combined industry experience. ARCpoint Labs has over 100 locations across the country with an additional 18 locations slated to open within the next 12 months. For more information on ARCpoint Labs, visit www.arcpointlabs.com.

ARCpoint Labs of Monterey Bay
24560 Silver Cloud Court, #103 Monterey, CA 93940
Phone: (831) 324-0772
Email:
Website: www.arcpointlabs.com
COVID-19 Appointments: labtestmonterey.com

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.arcpointlabs.com

Monterey Testing Laboratory One of Few on Central Coast Providing COVID-19 Antibody Testing

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has closed many businesses across the country, but there has also been an unexpected surge in some businesses, especially in the medical, health care and laboratory fields.

Monterey, CA, April 14, 2020 — The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has closed many businesses across the country, but there has also been an unexpected surge in some businesses, especially in the medical, health care and laboratory fields.

One such business is the Monterey-based ARCpoint Labs of Monterey Bay, one of the nation’s leaders in drug testing, alcohol screening, DNA and clinical lab testing, corporate wellness programs and employment/background screening.

Prior to the quarantines and closures mandated by COVID-19, about two-thirds of ARCpoint business came from wellness testing, specialized testing for people with specific conditions or diseases, such as celiac and lyme disease and mold sensitivities.

But now, according to ARCpoint co-owner and lab director Spenser Smith, more than 90% of its testing is focused on COVID-19 antibody testing, tests that determine whether a person has been infected by the virus and recovered, which produces antibodies that can be tested two ways: by a simple finger-prick to draw blood, or a more involved process that takes a tube of blood from the arm, much like a standard blood test.

ARCpoint had been doing almost all of its antibody tests the first way, with a drive-through system set up in its parking lot. The other method involves going into the laboratory to have your blood drawn. Results from the finger-prick test can be produced within 15-20 minutes, but because of the high volume of tests, are usually available by the end of the day. The second method requires the blood to be sent to a lab in Florida, with results available in a couple of days.

The FDA had allowed labs to give the finger-prick tests on April 1, but by April 11 had changed its guidelines so that labs, including ARCpoint, could only give the second test.

“It means we won't be doing the finger-stick version of the test for now, but we will be switching to a version of the test that uses a whole tube of blood from the arm, is more accurate, has earlier detection, and is considered by doctors and health professionals to be a big step forward in medical usefulness,” said Smith. “This test is a new and improved version that we are rolling out to continue our embrace of the newest testing technologies for COVID-19.”

Smith said the downside of the new tests is that it takes longer to perform, can’t be done in a drive-through and is more expensive, at about $175 as opposed to the $68.31 cost of the finger-prick test cost.

The concept of the blood tests is that people who have been exposed to the virus can develop antibodies, which can help them resist another infection. That way the body’s antibodies against COVID-19 can reduce the chances of getting infected again.

The hope is that those tested and found to have immunized antibodies could then return to work and help restart the economy.

Smith said his company, which was founded three years ago by him, his brother (who is the lab director on the toxicology side), mother and father, is hoping to get the costs down for the arm-draw method of testing.

The priority for testing is first responders and health care workers (as well as those on the front lines, such as grocery store workers, maintenance and janitorial workers and delivery drivers), but those who exhibited symptoms, didn’t get tested, and recovered, are also welcome to be tested.

For now, all testing is done by appointment-only, by phone or through its appointment portal on its website at arcpointlabs.com. Smith said he wanted the public to know that these tests, which are the same as the tests Stanford University and USC used in their studies on the prevalence of COVID-19 exposure in California, only detects protective antibodies to the virus rather than the virus itself.

The tests that detects the virus itself, the most common test is the so-called PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test, involves taking nasal and throat swabs, which then have to be sent to a centralized lab to test for viral RNA (ribonucleic acid, the marker that contains genetic information to detect the presence of the virus). These tests can often take days (sometimes weeks because of the demand) to get results. ARCpoint currently offers a small number of these tests to patients with a doctor’s order, but supplies have been limited throughout the nation since the onset of the outbreak.

Smith said that ARCpoint is part of a franchise operation that has more than 100 facilities across the country, but that the Monterey operation is just one of a half-dozen that is doing the COVID-19 antibody testing.

Right now the company is doing its testing on a cash-only basis since insurance companies have not determined a pricing and billing system for COVID-19 tests yet.

Because of the increased volume of testing ARCpoint has been experiencing, they have had to hire several temporary employees to handle the demand, Smith said.

Smith added that his company would like to offer PCR testing for the virus more widely, but that testing currently is experiencing a lot of issues, including the accuracy of the testing, false positives and lengthy waits for results. Because of that, health officials are urging Americans to reserve diagnostic tests for the active virus — the PCR tests — for health care workers, first responders and patients in hospitals.

ARCpoint Labs is a full-service national third-party provider/administrator of diagnostic testing. The services at its Monterey Bay location encompass both onsite and offsite pre-employment, random, post-accident and reasonable suspicion drug testing. In addition, ARCpoint also serves many judicial, athletic, and medical clients across the United States.

The family, which has made the Monterey Peninsula its home for over 30 years, has been in the drug and alcohol testing business for more than 18 years, has 50 years of combined business experience on the Central Coast, and its staff has over 60 years of combined industry experience.

ARCpoint Labs’ mission is to provide accurate, reliable, and confidential diagnostic testing for individuals, companies, and legal and healthcare professionals.

Media note: ARCpoint Co-Owner and Labs Lab Director Spenser Smith is available for media interviews. Please contact Marci Bracco Cain at (831) 747-7455 to set up an interview.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
https://www.arcpointlabs.com/