With Connecticut in its second phase of reopening, local businesses are going to begin to reopen and bring employees back into resume normal operations. In order to make sure that their employees and customers are kept safe upon reopening, business owners can begin to set up COVID-19 return to work testing, which can detect both past infection with COVID-19 as well as the active virus in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. AFC urgent care Torrington is working with businesses across the area to coordinate on-site testing.
What kind of tests are available for employees returning to work?
There are two types of tests available for return-to-work testing to detect the present of COVID-19:
Diagnostic swab testing
COVID-19 diagnostic testing is used to detect a case of the active COVID-19 virus. It is performed by using a gentle swab, similar to a Q-Tip, that sweeps through your lower nasal cavity, capturing a specimen to send to our on-site lab. The PCR swab test can only be performed for return-to-work purposes on asymptomatic patients who have not exhibited any symptoms of COVID-19, including cough, fever, nausea or body aches, in at least three days. Employees who have previously tested positive for COVID-19 must also wait at least fourteen days after their initial positive test for their return-to-work test. Based on the current capacity of our on-site laboratory, results can be sent to patients in 1-3 days.
Coronavirus antibody testing
Antibody testing is performed by taking a blood sample from a patient and looking for signs of antibodies. After an infection with COVID-19 has healed, antibodies will form as an immune response to the virus. Because antibodies are not formed until ten to fourteen days after an infection has healed, patients must be asymptomatic to undergo this test. Although patients can receive a negative result indicating no exposure to COVID-19, they may still have the active virus, which would lead to a negative result due to the lack of antibodies, or can contact it in the future. Results can be returned to patients in 1-3 days.
On-Site Return-to-Work COVID-19 Testing for Businesses in Torrington, CT
If your business is beginning to plan for reopening, contact AFC urgent care Torrington to coordinate COVID-19 testing for your employees. Both swab testing and antibody testing can be done on-site, under a tent we can set up to keep our employees safe as well as encourage proper social distancing. Each team member of AFC urgent care Torrington present for testing will be equipped with full gown, gloves, masks and face shields. Masks are required for patients who are getting tested. For questions or to set up testing, please call 860-866-4321.
If you are an employer or organization that would like to learn more about AFC’s On-Site testing program please email us at returntoworkct@afcurgentcare.
