COVID-19 Testing

Adult Primary Care, Bioidentical Hormone Specialists, IV Vitamin Infusion & Rheumatology located in Cullman, AL

COVID-19 Testing services offered in Cullman, AL

COVID-19 is a disease caused by a highly contagious virus that affects the respiratory system. COVID-19 testing continues to play a crucial role in controlling the spread of the virus. At Warehouse Primary Care & Specialty Clinic in Cullman, Alabama, the team offers COVID-19 testing. To schedule your COVID-19 test, call the office or book your test online today.

COVID-19 Testing Q & A

What is COVID-19 testing?

COVID-19 testing is a diagnostic test that determines if you have COVID-19.

COVID-19 is a disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This virus is very contagious.

Though most people with COVID-19 recover from their illness, some become extremely sick and develop life-threatening symptoms.

COVID-19 testing helps control the spread of the virus, potentially protecting those at greater risk of severe illness.

What are the types of COVID-19 testing?

COVID-19 testing includes tests that check for an active infection (viral tests) and tests that look for a past infection (antibody test).

Viral tests

Viral COVID-19 tests determine if you have SARS-CoV-2 by checking saliva samples from your nose or mouth. Testing includes rapid COVID-19 testing and laboratory testing.

Antibody tests

An antibody test is a blood test that looks for COVID-19 antibodies, which are the proteins your immune system makes to protect you from the virus. Your body makes antibodies after an infection or vaccination.

When do I need COVID-19 testing?

You need viral COVID-19 testing if you have COVID-19 symptoms. These symptoms may include:

Fever
Cough
Sore throat
Loss of sense of taste or smell
Body aches
Headaches
Shortness of breath
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea

You also need viral COVID-19 testing if you had close contact with someone who tested positive for the disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends you test five days after exposure.

COVID-19 testing is also recommended before and after travel. You may also need testing if your school, workplace, or special event requests it or your Warehouse Primary Care & Specialty Clinic provider recommends it.

If you want to get an antibody test to check for a previous infection, you must wait at least three weeks after recovering from your sickness.

When can I expect results from COVID-19 testing?

How soon you receive your COVID-19 testing results depends on the type of test you had. Rapid viral COVID-19 testing provides results within 15-30 minutes, while laboratory testing may take 1-3 days.

Rapid COVID-19 testing may not provide reliable results in people who don’t have symptoms and may benefit from a follow-up test. Laboratory COVID-19 testing results are reliable in people with or without symptoms, and follow-up testing isn’t needed.

If your test results come back positive, your provider at Warehouse Primary Care & Specialty Clinic can instruct you on how to manage your symptoms and the steps you need to take to prevent others from getting sick.

Results for antibody testing may take a few days.

To find out more about COVID-19 testing at Warehouse Primary Care & Specialty Clinic, call the office or schedule a consultation online today.