Highlands Health Clinic providing cancer testing kits

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Free at-home colorectal cancer screening kits are now available at Highlands Health Clinic.

WellPact, a startup medical supply company from Blair County, donated them to the facility that provides services to uninsured people in the Johnstown region.

"I think this is a very exciting opportunity, just another type of project here for Highlands Health in an effort to reach our most vulnerable population," Highlands Health Clinic Director Rosalie Danchanko said during a press conference Thursday morning.

"We're always looking for partnerships and we're always looking for those new innovative, exciting and pilot projects."

The American Cancer Society recommends that people at average risk for colorectal cancer begin testing at age 45.

"Screening for this disease is an essential preventive measure," Danchanko said.

WellPact Vice President Carol Kingsley added: "We find that the screening rates are lower than they should be. And so providing an at-home kit to help with this self-collection and deliver that back to the laboratory through the mail is a very simple way for patients to do the screening."

Highlands Health Clinical Coordinator Bola Awe and patient Rosalind Harris provided information about the collection and testing process during the event.

"It's very simple," Awe said. "It's very user-friendly."

Patients will mail the samples to California-based IHDLab. Results will usually be available within three to five days.

"At-home specimen collection is a game-changer in making preventive health measures more accessible," Dr. Jim Chen, the lab's chief of business development, said in a press release.

"We are committed to delivering high-quality lab services that support early detection and improve health outcomes."