Our 24/7 urgent care centers are here to assist our communities during and after the pandemic:$99 FOR ANTIBODY TESTING IF YOU HAVE NO INSURANCE
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The spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus has led to mass closures of public community events, local institutions, and large-scale events. Affordable and accessible testing will help ensure our neighbors are as healthy as possible during a global healthcare crisis such as this.
Are you offering covid antibody testing? |
-Yes, we are currently offering COVID19 testing. Patients should ideally be evaluated by a doctor who will determine if testing is recommended, but you don't have to be seen by our doctor if you're not using insurance to pay for your antibody testing.
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WHO SHOULD GET AN ANTIBODY TEST? Who needs vs wants an antibody test? |
If you think you might have come into contact with the coronavirus, or if you’ve tested positive for COVID-19 and have fully recovered, you can probably get tested for antibodies. Although we are NOT saying that everyone needs to be tested, there seem to be 4 groups that may wish to consider testing:
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how much does testing cost if i use my health insurance? |
Probably nothing if you have insurance (which can be private insurance, or Medicaid or Medicare), but you will likely need a doctor's order to get tested if you wish to use insurance. You can get a doctor's order from your PCP, from most ERs and urgent cares and from telemedicine solutions like contactadoc.com. You could also be seen by our doctor at 247uc.com. Whichever option you choose, it will typically get you a COVID-19 antibody test covered by your insurer.
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How much does testing cost if i pay cash or if i do not wish to use my insurance? |
$99 (yes, that's less than a quarter of what some places are charging)
You'll probably discover that our price is the lowest you'll find from a private clinic. This is because we are committed to our patients and we will not tolerate price-gouging by those wishing to take advantage of the pandemic.
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Do I need an appointment to get covid antibody testing? |
No you do not. Unlike any other clinic or urgent care in St. Louis, we are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and you are welcome to come on in without an appointment. You could also pre-register online if you wish as that might save you a little time filling out a form in the waiting room. We can even text you your results if you verify the correct phone number when we see you.
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can my plasma help sick people get better faster? |
Possibly. More research is needed. You can volunteer to donate plasma through the National COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Project. Or ask your local blood donation center for information. In St. Louis, you can contact Washington University at IDCRU@wustl.edu or call them at 314-454-0058. You can also sign up to donate your plasma at the Community Blood Center, which will require the following criteria:
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Are Antibody Tests Accurate?
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Companies make their own claims about the accuracy of their antibody tests. Some say it’s up to 100%. Government researchers are studying how well the tests are working, but it’s too early to say for sure. The FDA says it will crack down on any manufacturer that sells a bad test.
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Does a positive antibody result mean I'm now immune? |
A positive result might mean you have some immunity to the coronavirus. It’s too early to know how strong it is or how long it might last, but recent research is looking promising.
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Should I come in to be tested if I have an exposure meeting CDC criterion and do have symptoms? |
-Yes, but please call our centers at 636-253-3000 prior to coming in to alert the team that you are coming. We will evaluate you, test for influenza, and contact the City or County Department Of Health if appropriate. We can collect samples and send to our reference lab for testing if deemed necessary by our provider. You may also be tested for influenza while in our center. It may be faster to get tested at a dedicated testing center.
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