Register for COVID-19 Swab Testing at AFC Urgent Care Watertown today:
AFC Urgent Care Watertown provides swab COVID-19 testing for local patients in Watertown and the greater Boston area. As cases of coronavirus continue to spike, our provider team is ready to administer testing by walk-in access or through appointment at our urgent care center.
If you have any questions about COVID-19 testing, COVID FAQs, and how we can help, then consult the info below. If you need to book a test, use the button above.
Right now, it is $139 for the rapid antigen test and flu tests, which is now a combination test, with results within 2 hours. The PCR test typically required for international air travel is $279. The Rapid Molecular is $199. Please note that in most circumstances (COVID symptoms and/or exposure) these tests will be covered by your health insurance plan.
COVID-19 Testing: How Swab Tests Work at AFC Watertown
A COVID-19 swab test works by taking a swab sample from inside a patient’s nose or mouth to perform a Real-Time Reverse Transcriptase (RT)–PCR Diagnostic Panel. The panel test takes a bit to process results, but the test is highly accurate for both positive and negative tests.
A patient that has a positive test means that they have a current COVID-19 infection. Negative tests mean that the patient is COVID-free.
Providers at AFC Urgent Care Watertown perform COVID testing by wearing personal protective equipment and by maintaining CDC-recommended policies for sanitation and infection control. A list of infection control procedures we follow includes:
- Personal protective equipment
- Frequent sanitation of surfaces and waiting room area
- Social distancing guidelines and instructions throughout clinic
- Hands-free check-in and processing
COVID-19 Antibody Testing at AFC Watertown
A COVID-19 antibody test works by using a blood sample to analyze a patient’s antibodies. The test specifically identifies antibodies that can fight off the COVID-19 virus due to a previous infection. An antibody test, or “serology test" as it is referred to, simply detects an autoimmune response from a patient. It does not detect an active infection.
Antibody testing only takes a few minutes to provide results back to patients.
COVID-19 Risks and Evaluation for Patients:
COVID-19 cases have now eclipsed 4 million nationwide, so patients that have been traveling to other states may have increased exposure risks to the virus.
COVID-19 is one of the most dangerous global health crises in 2020, which is now flagged as a major public health concern in the United States. When a disease or illness gain as much attention on social media as the coronavirus, then it is imperative to follow trustworthy updates from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), and local healthcare officials.
AFC Urgent Care Watertown is here to provide you with the best sources of information from our social media platforms, leading healthcare agencies, and frequent major media updates. Misinformation from unverified social media sources can cause patients to panic or participate in ineffective prevention methods. Use the following modules and links to learn more!
However, patients that don’t meet the clinical guidelines as a likely match for COVID-19 can still be tested for seasonal illnesses. The common cold and flu have similar symptoms to COVID-19: Sneezing, coughing, and fever. The guidelines for COVID-19 testing include all of the following. If you meet all three guidelines, then visit an emergency room for care:
- Hospitalized patients who have signs and symptoms compatible with COVID-19 in order to inform decisions related to infection control.
- Other symptomatic individuals such as, older adults and individuals with chronic medical conditions and/or an immunocompromised state that may put them at higher risk for poor outcomes (e.g., diabetes, heart disease, receiving immunosuppressive medications, chronic lung disease, chronic kidney disease).
- Any persons including healthcare personnel, who within 14 days of symptom onset had close contact with a suspect or laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patient, or who have a history of travel from affected geographic areas within 14 days of their symptom onset.
