Several Florida Labs Wrongly Report 100 Percent of COVID-19 Tests Positive

Numerous laboratories in Florida have misreported 100% positive coronavirus test rates, according to FOX 35.

The Florida Department of Health said some labs have not reported any negative test results.

Other labs reported extremely high positivity rates, which set off some alarms.

Orlando Health, for example, reported a 98% rate. But when FOX 35 reached out to the health facility to confirm that rate, officials reported only a 9.4% rate.

The Orlando Veteran’s Medical Center reported a positivity rate of 76%. A spokesperson later told the station the hospital's positivity rate was 6%.

The state health department on Tuesday said all labs in the state are required to report both positive and negative results immediately. It admits some labs have not. In particular, the health department said small, private labs were withholding negative results.

Florida is currently reporting 12,000 coronavirus cases a day, up from 2,000 from a month ago. And on Tuesday, 132 deaths were announced in a single day.

"The Department immediately began working with those labs to ensure that all results were being reported in order to provide comprehensive and transparent data," a spokesperson for the Florida Department of Health said. "As the state continues to receive results from various labs, the Department will continue educating these labs on proper protocol for reporting COVID-19 test results."

• Texas, Florida Put Restrictions In Place as Coronavirus Cases Flare Up
• Sen. Rubio: Schools Won't Open With Coronavirus Levels High