ITHACA, N.Y. (WENY) --     An Ithaca based company just received emergency FDA clearance for a rapid COVID-19 test.

According to the company, it will give patients results the same day. Cayuga Health says the Cayuga Medical Center will be one of the first hospitals across the country to take advantage of this test.

Rheonix says they already started shipping out the test to laboratories. A doctor with Cayuga Health says they typically see about 150 to 250 patients a day at the sampling center -- and it takes a couple of days to get the results back. But with this new test, they can process 200 samples per day and get the results without having to send any samples out.

"We are thrilled to team with Rheonix, located right here in Ithaca. Their technology and expertise has enabled us to be able to provide same day results for COVID-19 testing – one of the quickest turnaround times in our region," states Martin Stallone, President & CEO of Cayuga Health. "We were successful with opening one of the first COVID-19 drive through sampling centers in our state and will continue to do what it takes to fight this epidemic and meet the healthcare needs of our community, right here."

The Cayuga Health/Tompkins County Sampling Center, which opened March 24, is available for drive through testing from 10am-3pm, Monday-Friday. A new website with on-line registration is available at www.cayugahealth.org for patients to review the screening criteria and pre-register before their arrival, allowing greater efficiencies with patient volume and decreased wait times.