As we watch the Omicron variant make its way across Massachusetts,  we have seen a huge uptick in COVID-19 cases over the past two months. If you attended any gatherings over the holidays, chances are you may have been exposed. Some schools are taking precautions by going all virtual in January, leaving the rest up to us to be smart about reducing the spread.

AFC Urgent Care Saugus is providing COVID-19 testing in order to ensure that patients that are at risk for COVID-19 are able to get an accurate and efficient diagnosis without a hassle. At this time we are offering Rapid Molecular tests 7 days a week. 

The rapid Molecular test is one of the best and most reliable rapid tests on the market. We know it can be confusing considering the fact that there are other rapid testing options and at-home testing options. But, don’t worry, we’ll help break down the differences while helping you choose the right test.

Don’t Confuse Rapid Molecular Tests and Rapid Antigen Tests

They are not the same thing. 

The benefit of a rapid molecular test is that if you have a low viral amount of the COVID-19 virus in your specimen collection, the test will be able to detect it. PCR tests or their rapid versions are considered the “gold standard” of all COVID-19 testing for this reason. It’s because of their method of molecular testing,  which gives anyone the most accurate results based on the fact that they’re the most sensitive and the most specific when detecting COVID-19. Rapid Molecular testing or PCR tests are also widely known and accepted as a “proof” of a test. 

On the other hand, an Antigen test may have its advantages of giving you quick results in minutes, however, if you don’t test in the early stages, or have a low count of the virus in your system, the Antigen test may give you a false reading. This is why you constantly hear about false negatives with Antigen tests. This is because Antigen tests only test for the protein of the virus. They’re not molecular tests- the most accurate,  making it harder for you to have peace of mind when getting your results. Accuracy is the trade off for the speediness of this type of test. 

When To Get a Rapid Molecular Test or A Rapid Antigen Test?

AFC Urgent Care Saugus doesn’t offer the Antigen test due to its reliability and accuracy issues. We offer the Rapid Molecular test because it provides the best detection of the COVID-19 virus and its variants. We highly suggest getting tested for any known exposures, if you’re symptomatic or asymptomatic and have been exposed. Your Rapid Molecular reading will help you determine the next course of action, to either self isolate if you’re positive, or go about your normal routine if you test negative.

If you happen to schedule an appointment for a Rapid Antigen test at a pharmacy or just purchase an “at-home” testing kit without realizing the facts, be sure to follow up with a rapid Molecular test. 

Rapid antigen tests or at-home test kits, should only be taken if you’re symptomatic or know that you’ve been exposed in the early stages. Don’t always assume one Antigen test will be enough to give you the results you need. Antigen tests need to be done in a series of tests in a span of a few days for accuracy. 

Again, if you’re past the early stages of infection or exposure, the Antigen test may not be able to detect a viral infection. It’s highly suggested to follow up with a rapid Molecular test for their more accurate reading and because they’re widely accepted as a “proof of test”.

***NEW

The CDC guidelines have recently been updated to shorten the quarantine and isolation time for people who test positive in the U.S. Isolation time has been reduced from 10 days to 5 days. It is required to wear a mask for another 5 days as an extra precaution. For more information and guidance,click here.

Get Tested Today With Results On The Same day!

Make sure you read the name of the test before signing up for an appointment. If it says “Rapid” followed by “antigen test”, prepare to test again with a rapid Molecular test for more accuracy. AFC Urgent Care Saugus is open 7 days a week and is ready to test you for COVID-19. We are anticipating an increase in cases because of the holidays and the veracity of the Omicron variant.

Results for Rapid Molecular testing are available within 20 minutes, so stick around so we can hand you your results. We also offer urgent care needs and specialties like flu shots, X-ray services, employer services, physicals and more

**Due to unusually high demand for testing, in order to better serve our patients we have temporarily implemented a ticketing system to schedule for urgent care visits and covid-19 testing throughout the day. Tickets are distributed at the start of each day (approximately 8am) until all appointments have been exhausted for that day. Each ticket will provide information on what time to return back to the center for your appointment.