COVID-19 Testing Clinic Q&A

There are two types of COVID-19 tests available at Q Day Walk-In Clinic.

Rapid antigen testing (15 min) Individuals with and without symptoms of COVID-19 can be tested with a rapid antigen test. As part of this test, nasopharyngeal swabs are used to collect nose and throat secretions and then analyzed for protein fragments associated with COVID-19. These tests provide quick results within 15 minutes, but they are generally considered less accurate than PCR tests.

False negatives (a result that indicates someone doesn’t have Coronavirus when they actually do) and false positives (a result that indicates someone has Coronavirus when they don’t) are common. For further confirmation, you may want to receive the PCR test if you are feeling under the weather and received a negative rapid test. Rapid antigen tests generally provide accurate results when administered during the peak of infection, when virus levels in the body are at their highest.

Rapid PCR (30 min) PCR tests are similar to rapid tests in several ways, such as the fact that they can be administered to individuals with or without symptoms, and they are conducted using a nasopharyngeal swab. However, that’s where the similarities end.

When it comes to COVID-19 testing, PCR is considered the gold standard. If you have ever been asked to show proof of a COVID-19 test, you were required to provide PCR results. Due to the use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to identify the viral genetic material of COVID-19, these tests provide more accurate results than rapid tests. A person’s genetic material can be detected while actively infected as well as after the acute illness has ended.

However, PCR tests do not provide results as quickly as rapid tests. It generally takes three to seven days, but during peak periods it can take longer.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms may appear 2 to 14 days after exposure. Incubation occurs after exposure but before symptoms appear. It is still possible to spread COVID-19 before you have symptoms (presymptomatic transmission).

Fever, cough, and fatigue are common symptoms. A loss of taste or smell is one of the early symptoms of COVID-19. There are many other potential symptoms besides those most common. In general, children have mild illnesses with similar symptoms to adults.

COVID-19 symptoms can range from mild to severe. Some people may only experience a few symptoms. Although some people may not show any symptoms, they can still spread the disease (asymptomatic transmission). About a week after symptoms start, some people may experience worsened symptoms, such as shortness of breath and pneumonia.

COVID-19 symptoms may persist for more than four weeks after a person is diagnosed. Often, these health issues are referred to as post-COVID-19 conditions. Several weeks after getting COVID-19, some children experience multisystem inflammatory syndrome, which can affect some organs and tissues. Adults may sometimes experience these as well.

The risk of serious illness from COVID-19 increases with age. Serious illnesses may also be more likely to occur in people with existing medical conditions.

Tell your close contacts if you have symptoms of COVID-19 or have tested positive. When your symptoms started or your positive test result came within 48 hours of your close contact, that means you were less than six feet away from them for at least 15 minutes, or multiple shorter periods of time. Stopping the spread of the virus will be easier if you inform your contacts.

Test immediately if you have symptoms. You should wait at least 5 full days after your exposure to COVID-19 before testing if you do not have symptoms. You may get an inaccurate result if you test too early. You may need to test as part of a screening testing program in certain high-risk settings. If you live in an area with a medium or high COVID-19 Community Level, test before you contact someone at high risk for severe COVID-19.

COVID-19 testing is available at Q Day Walk-In Clinic. For more information, call us today or book an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 3560 E Park Blvd Plano, TX. We serve patients from Plano TX, Frisco TX, Garland TX, Carrollton TX, McKinney TX, Murphy TX, Wylie TX, and much more!