The first round of comprehensive coronavirus testing on the Vineyard commenced with a slow rollout on Thursday, as about 10 volunteers and staff received some of the Island’s first tests for asymptomatic patients.

The testing began at approximately 1:15 p.m., according to officials on the site, which is now set up at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School. Public health officials, led by health agents Matt Poole and Maura Valley, as well as employees of Island Health Care, have transformed the performing arts parking lot into a full-scale testing facility over the past three days.

On Thursday, the first group of testing recipients were a form of test themselves — making sure that the complicated logistics and testing procedure would be ready for a more full rollout expected after June 1. The 10 tests on Thursday and the approximately 20 tests scheduled for Friday were all organized and scheduled by public health officials involved with the project.

Tests are not yet open to the general public, and will be conducted via appointment-only, with a call center for patients set to open June 1.

Officials have said that the first round of testing will include public safety personnel, health care workers and other essential employees, like grocery store workers. Testing will then be expanded to other high risk groups, such as the elderly or those with pre-existing conditions, before being made open to all Islanders.

A press conference has been tentatively scheduled for Saturday to discuss the results, outcome and process for the first 30 or so tests, according to Mr. Poole, who was present at the site on Thursday.

The testing is a unique public-private collaboration between Island public health officials and Quest Diagnostics, with the goal of eventually providing testing to all Islanders. The initiative was made possible through a partnership between Edgartown seasonal residents Deb and Steve Rusckowski, who is the CEO of Quest, and Island health officials.

The testing will be overseen by Island Health Care, a federally qualified community health center that has partnered with Quest to perform the tests on-Island.

At the site on Thursday, a tent was set up to greet patients at the far northwest entrance to the lot, with cones directing traffic to a staging area. From there, cars will loop around by the Performing Arts Center, according to Mr. Poole. Patients who have previously scheduled appointments will pick up a bag with their tests and paperwork at a second tent, and then drive through one of three lanes, where they will administer the test themselves while a licensed health professional observes.

Each testing lane has a staggered, 20-by-30 drive-through tent. Signs at the entrance and exit to the parking lot direct traffic.

Mike Savoy, a registered nurse who works for IHC, was in full protective gear and face mask while waiting under the tent for the first patients on Thursday. Mr. Savoy said four or five people had driven through looking for tests, but that the site had been relatively quiet throughout the morning.

Inside the Performing Arts Center, three tables had been set up for paperwork, label-making, administrative duties and information transmission to the state DPH and Quest.

Mr. Savoy said IHC had received a large number of calls from people interested in getting tested, and that individuals were being directed to the IHC website, where a phone number for scheduling appointments will be made available June 1. Testing is not expected to be widely available to residents and visitors until after June 8, according to the website.

“We’re running through all the little glitches that we hope to iron out,” Mr. Savoy said on Thursday. “So far, so good.”