How to Get Tested for COVID-19 via Telehealth
At PhysicianOne Urgent Care, we’re proud to provide prompt COVID-19 testing services for residents of Massachusetts, New York, and Connecticut. We offer PCR and rapid antigen tests as well as antibody testing. And to make it even easier, you can schedule a telehealth visit to get things started.
How the Telehealth Process Works
Booking a Virtual Visit with PhysicianOne Urgent Care is incredibly easy. You’ll fill out a simple form to explain the symptoms you’re experiencing and select a time for the Virtual Visit to start. Then, when it’s time for your appointment, you’ll simply click the link we gave you, which will launch a videoconferencing application. (You’ll need a smartphone, tablet, or webcam-enabled computer for the Virtual Visit.)
During your appointment, you’ll speak face-to-face with one of our experienced medical providers who will ask you specific questions about the symptoms you’re experiencing to determine if you need a COVID-19 test. If so, the provider will arrange for you to receive the test at one of our conveniently located urgent care centers. Best of all, your test will be prioritized when you arrive, so you’ll be in and out in no time.
What to Expect From a COVID-19 Test
At PhysicianOne Urgent Care, we offer three types of COVID-19 testing: polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, rapid antigen tests, and antibody tests:
PCR Tests
Considered the gold standard of COVID-19 testing, PCR tests deliver the most accurate results. This test is administered using a nasopharyngeal swab that collects nose and throat secretions that are examined to determine if specific genetic material of SARS-CoV-2 is present. Results for PCR tests are returned within 24 hours, although that timeline is often longer during peak periods.
Rapid Antigen Tests
While rapid antigen tests can get a bad rap for not being as reliable as PCR tests, it all really depends on when you receive your test. Since it detects viral antigens (a protein that directs your body to produce an immune response to an infection) of COVID-19, it is best administered when your viral load is the highest—i.e., in the first few days after you started experiencing symptoms. Rapid antigen tests can deliver results quickly, sometimes in as little as 15 minutes. In some instances, if you receive a negative result on a rapid test, your practitioner may recommend receiving the PCR test to make sure it wasn’t a false negative.
Antibody Tests
An antibody test can identify if you were infected with COVID-19 in the past. Antibodies are proteins that your immune system creates to help fight off infection. Since it typically takes one to three weeks after infection for the antibodies to show up, this test is not a good predictor of a current infection.
Get Started With PhysicianOne Urgent Care
If you’re in need of COVID-19 testing and you live in Massachusetts, New York, or Connecticut, turn to PhysicianOne Urgent Care for prompt service. We can evaluate your symptoms via telehealth to help you determine if a COVID-19 test is needed.
Our Virtual Visits and COVID-19 testing services are always completed by highly trained practitioners who are committed to delivering top-quality care and friendly service to our patients. If you need COVID-19 testing, don’t hesitate to book a Virtual Visit with our team today. When it comes to COVID-19 support, we’ve got you!
