$0 charge for both PCR Antigen and Antibody Tests!
Are you ready to get back to work? Don't you want to know if you, your employees, and your coworkers are not infected with COVID-19? Wouldn't you want to see if you have antibodies that may protect you from future COVID-19 infections?
What is the difference between the types of tests available for COVID-19?
Currently, there are two different types of COVID-19 tests: The diagnostic testing and the Antibody testing. There are also two types of diagnostic tests – molecular (RT-PCR) tests that detect the virus's genetic material, and antigen tests. An antibody test looks for antibodies that are made by the immune system in response to a threat, such as a specific virus.
The CDC estimates that as many as 25% of all actively infected COVID-19 patients, in the general population, may be asymptomatic. In the USS Teddy Roosevelt Naval Carrier COVID-19 case, 50% of the infected sailors were asymptomatic. That means that just because an employee is asymptomatic of the typical COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, there is no way to assure he or she is not infected without taking an antigen test. Conversely, unless an employer tests all employees with an antibody test, there is no way to take advantage of the protection employees may have with COVID-19 antibodies. To aid employers, employees, and authorities in that process, we now offer both Antigen Testing (Nose Swab PCR) and Antibody Testing (Blood Test) for important peace of mind. We believe both tests, the PCR and the antibody tests are necessary. And importantly, while many clinics rushed to offer Rapid Antibody tests, many of these tests were, unfortunately, found to be inaccurate and misleading by the FDA. So, we at AFC Urgent Care Richmond, waited until we found a reliable and high-quality source for both tests. And we did, which is why we are making this offer at a very affordable price!
These COVID-19 tests and related provider visits are now free of charge to all insured patients and even to most uninsured patients who qualify! Section 3201 of the CARES Act requires all insurance plans to cover any cost-sharing such as copays or deductibles towards COVID-19 diagnostic testing and service Click here to learn more. The CARES Act also provides for coverage of noninsured patients provided there is a signed attestation Click here to learn more. For non-COVID-19 related Heath care, AFC Urgent Care Richmond is offering unheard Self-Pay visits for only $96 to help our patients during the pandemic! Click here to learn more.
We offer two COVID-19 tests, Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and antibody serological testing. They serve different yet complementary needs. PCR tests directly measure the presence of the virus. In this technique, our technicians extract a specimen from your nasal cavity with a nasopharyngeal swab. The sample is express delivered to an FDA approved laboratory where RNA components unique to SARS-CoV-2 are extracted, multiplied, and measured. A Positive PCR test means the patient has an active COVID-19 infection. While a PCR test can confirm a patient is not infected, it cannot rule out the patient was previously infected and may have antibodies against future COVID-19 outbreaks. Here is where antibody tests are useful.
In antibody serological tests, our technicians draw a small sample of blood. That specimen is express delivered to an FDA approved lab where the presence of two antibodies, IgM and IgG, are tested for. IgM appears within the first 1-2 weeks of infection and then disappears. In contrast, the IgG antibody appears after about two weeks after a SAR-CoV-2onset starts and remains in a patient's blood for years.
A positive antibody test means that the patient was infected with COVID-19 in the past and that their immune system developed antibodies to try to fight it off. It can identify people who had an infection in the past, even if they had no symptoms of the illness. It may be able to help determine who has some level of immunity to COVID-19.
By offering both tests, we believe you have the best information and peace of mind. You will not only hopefully confirm that you are not infected, but you will find out if you have antibodies that may protect you against future COVID-19 outbreaks. If you are an employer, the antibody test can help you plan best how and where your staff is placed.
Please note as these tests are not for high priority patients with active infections, they may be subject to limitations in availability.
About the Authors, owners of AFC Urgent Care Richmond
As long-time residents of the Richmond and Sugar Land area, Sol and Adriano have been active members of the community. They have been owners of AFC Urgent Care Richmond for the past several years. Sol is the operations manager for the clinic and has Medical Degree from the University of Caraboboa and was a resident Ophthalmological Surgeon in her native country, Venezuela. Adriano is the center's general manager, leveraging several decades of technical, commercial and marketing experience in Oil & Gas. They participate in and sponsor local non-profit organizations such as Boy Scouts of America and Shape Up Fort Bend.
If you are symptomatic and need testing and/or treatment, please make an appointment through our TeleCare Service.
