At the beginning of the pandemic, when you needed a COVID-19 test, you most likely had to wait in line at a testing site. A couple of years later, you can now use at-home kits or simply walk into an urgent care clinic. Understand the differences between the two tests so you can find the best option for you and your family.

Urgent Care Testing

Testing at a facility such as urgent care ensures accuracy. AFC Urgent Care’s rapid COVID test in Raleigh, NC offers competitive pricing or could be free, depending on your insurance. To note, you will be spending time at the physical location and could be in a waiting room with others for some time.

At Home Testing

If you want fast results within a matter of minutes, an at-home test might be for you. You can perform swabbing in the comfort of your own home—you could even test your entire family and quarantine afterward if need be. These tests are slightly more expensive to buy from the store and could be hard to obtain due to demand.

Which Is Right for You?

If you’re comfortable performing the COVID-19 test on yourself, the at-home option is better because you won’t have to travel. However, if you want to ensure the swabbing is done correctly for accurate results, go to an urgent care clinic. Generally, it is up to personal preference—if you go to a clinic, your insurance could cover the test and you would save money.

The main difference between the two is who is performing the test—you or a medical professional. If you plan on testing at home, have a few kits on hand so you can be prepared when the time comes. To add, if you are doing everything yourself, remember to report your results so the medical community can keep track of the spread. If your results are positive, ensure you take the proper protocols to quarantine and isolate.