Springfield COVID-19 Rapid Diagnostic Testing at AFC Urgent Care

COVID-19 Testing in Springfield, MA and West Springfield

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Call AFC Urgent Care Springfield about COVID-19 testing options for patients

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AFC Urgent Care Springfield is now offering the Abbott ID NOW COVID-19 test, a rapid molecular test that allows your physician to test a sample and provide you with results in 15 minutes. The test is available under emergency use authorization from the FDA. Rapid COVID-19 testing is available seven days a week to patients at AFC Urgent Care Marlborough, no appointment is needed.

Q. What is a Rapid COVID-19 Test?

A. A Rapid test is a nasal swab used to detect an active strain of the COVID-19 virus. Patients that are experiencing symptoms or have been exposed to someone who has tested positive should receive a rapid COVID test.

Q. How does Rapid COVID Testing work?

A. A test works by swabbing the inside of a patient’s nose, and detecting whether or not they have an active case of the virus. Your test is then sent to and analyzed in our lab. Rapid test results are typically found within fifteen minutes of the test.

Q. What should I do if I have a Positive Result?

A. You should stay home and avoid contact with others. Drink plenty of fluids throughout the quarantine process and get enough rest. Monitor your symptoms to make sure you are getting better and stay in touch with your doctor. It is recommended to quarantine for at least 10 days after symptoms start.

Q. What should I do if I have a Negative Test?

A. Receiving a negative tests means your body did not show active signs of the virus at the time. If you start experiencing symptoms, get tested again. If not, continue following governmental guidelines, wash your hands frequently, maintain a distance of 6 feet between others, and wear a mask when in public.

Q. Is Rapid Testing Covered By Insurance?

A. Whether or not you are covered for rapid tests will depend on your current insurance plan. Some insurance plans do not cover rapid testing. Please refer to our list of current, accepted insurance plans and determine whether your policy covers rapid tests.

Q. Are there other types of testing available?

A. AFC Urgent Care Springfield and West Springfield also offer COVID Antibody testing for patients who are not experiencing symptoms, and do not have an active case of the virus. The antibody test is used to detect antibodies in a patient’s system, and not for active COVID cases.

Q. Where can I get rapid COVID-19 testing near Springfield, MA and West Springfield, MA?

A. AFC Urgent Care Springfield and West Springfield offer rapid COVID-19 testing for all patients near Springfield, West Springfield, Ludlow, and Chicopee, MA. Call our provider team for more details.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

COVID-19 has a set of symptoms that varies from case to case. While some patients have exhibited mild symptoms similar to a cold, other patients have experienced severe symptoms to none at all. However, patients are equally capable of spreading the virus regardless of severity of symptoms. After initial exposure to the virus, symptoms may develop in between two and fourteen days. Symptoms include:

• High fever (over 102 F)
• Persistent cough
• Shortness of breath and congestion
• Body aches
• Loss of smell and/or taste

How does the Covid-19 Rapid Test Work?

Please wear a mask to AFC Urgent Care West Springfield when you arrive for your test and only lower it when asked. The rapid test requires your physician to take a swab of your upper nasal cavity to collect a tissue sample. Once the sample has been collected, it is brought to our on-site lab for analyzing and processing. The sample is mixed with a solution that breaks down only the COVID-19 virus if detected.

By breaking apart the virus, the genome and genetic material that makes up COVID-10 is exposed, then reproduced in targeted molecules from your sample. This allows the test to detect the presence of the active COVID-19 virus in the sample, providing a diagnosis. The result is available on the device screen as well as printed. Your results will be available to you via a phone call or email the day you are tested.

Benefits of the Rapid Test

The rapid test takes less time than a standard PCR swab test, allowing patients to receive their results the day of testing. By getting the results quickly, patients will be able to know their status and whether or not they will need to inform those who have been around them in recent days to get tested. If your test comes back with a positive result, you should begin self-isolating immediately if you were not doing so before the test.

If you come back with a negative result, you should take special care to follow local health recommendations and guidelines, including social distancing, avoiding unnecessary trips out of your home and wearing a mask or protective face covering over your nose and mouth when out in public.