info@rapidtestme.com | 908-809-3381 | 1192 Morris Ave., Union, NJ (Map)
How does the COVID-19 Rapid Antigen testing process work?
Please see our How it Works page to understand our simple process and to book your appointment.
Should I get both a Rapid Antigen test and the PCR test?
That depends. Do you have symptoms or not?
If you have COVID-19 symptoms and your Rapid Antigen test comes back negative, you should definitely have your results confirmed with a PCR (molecular test). Antigen tests are more likely to miss an active COVID-19 infection compared to molecular tests.
If you don't have symptoms, you may want to wait to see if you develop symptoms before testing again with the Rapid Antigen test or having the PCR test.
Do I need a doctor's referral to be tested?
We do not require a doctor's note to be tested.
How accurate is the Rapid Antigen test?
A positive result in the Rapid Antigen test is almost always correct but due to the lack of sensitivity, the test can also lead to false negatives. Negative results from a Rapid Antigen test may need to be confirmed with a PCR test before making treatment decisions and to prevent spread of disease due to a false-negative result.
Just as your doctor may order a throat culture to definitively rule out strep throat when a rapid strep test comes back negative, the FDA recommends using the more sensitive COVID-19 PCR (molecular) test for symptomatic individuals who test negative with antigen tests prior to making treatment decisions or to prevent the possible spread of the virus due to a false negative.
What is the difference between a PCR and a Rapid Antigen test?
Diagnostic tests that determine if someone has an active COVID-19 infection fall into two categories: antigen tests, which are mostly used for rapid testing, and molecular tests such as RT-PCR tests.
PCR tests look for genetic material from the virus. Rapid Antigen tests looks for molecules on the surface of the virus. PCR tests require expensive and specialized equipment and can take hours or days to get results. In contrast, antigen tests can be run in a doctor’s office in about 15 minutes but are not as sensitive as PCR (molecular) tests.
Unfortunately, there’s a trade-off between speed and accuracy, and Rapid Antigen tests often fail to identify people who are actually infected, a shortcoming the FDA acknowledges. “Positive results from antigen tests are highly accurate,” the FDA writes, “but there is a higher chance of false negatives, so negative results do not rule out infection.”
Who should be tested?
Anyone can be tested.
You should definitely be tested if you have one or more symptoms of COVID-19: fever, persistent cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, brain fog, chills, body ache, headache, joint pain, chest pain, and loss of taste or smell.
You should also be tested if you have been in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Because of the potential for asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission, it is important that anyone in contact with a COVID-19 positive individual be quickly identified and tested.
I've been in contact with a COVID-19 positive individual, when should I get tested?
It's best to self-quarantine at home for five days, then get tested. Individuals may spread COVID-19 as soon as two to three days before developing symptoms which typically occur 5 to 7 days after exposure, with some cases lasting as long as 14 days.
A person with COVID-19 may be contagious 48 to 72 hours before starting to experience symptoms which typically occur 5 to 7 days after exposure, with some cases lasting as long as 14 days.
In fact, people without symptoms may be more likely to spread the illness, because they are unlikely to be isolating and may not adopt behaviors designed to prevent spread.
From contracting the virus to symptoms
What is the incubation period for COVID-19?
An incubation period is the time between when you contract a virus and when your symptoms start.
Currently, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the incubation period for Coronavirus is somewhere between 2 to 14 days after exposure.
According to a recent report, more than 97 percent of people who contract Coronavirus show symptoms within 11.5 days of exposure. The average incubation period seems to be around 5 days.
At your appointment
What can I expect?
You must read our How it works page before scheduling an appointment or coming to be tested..
In summary, arrive no more than 5 minutes before your appointment. Park to the right of our building in the front. Once we have wiped down the area and prepared for you, we will either call you or wave you over to the RapidTestMe testing area - the 2nd set of doors in the front of the building. If you cannot walk to the testing area, please call 908-809-3381 and we can come to your car.
When you get to the testing area, show your ID to the nurse, state your name and birthday, then have a seat. The nurse will swab your throat and nose, and then you will leave. The swab is a little uncomfortable but takes only a few seconds.
Testing is uncomforable but not painful.
Does the nasal and throat swab hurt?
We sample both your throat and nose. The nasal swab, called a nasopharyngeal swab or culture, allows us to collect a sample of secretions from the uppermost part of your throat, behind the nose. Our nurse will gently insert what looks like a long Q-tip as far as it’ll go into your nose and then twirl the swab to get a good sample. We have to get the swab back into the pharynx part of the nose, not the very front part, in order to get a good sample and have it be reliable.
While nasal sampling is more reliable than oral sampling, we also sample the back of your throat just to make sure we have enough sample. We don't want you to have to come back! Relax and try not to gag or cough during the throat swab.
The entire procedure is over in less than a minute.
Getting your results
When can I expect my test results?
Results appear on a test strip in 10 minutes
Medical insurance
Do you take insurance? What if I don't have insurance or don't want to use my insurance?
If you are using medical insurance, it is your responsibility to contact your insurance company to find out your coverage.
We do not submit our service fees to your insurance
We do not submit our service fee to insurance. You will, however, be emailed a receipt that you can submit directly to your insurance. There is no guarantee that our service fee will be reimbursed to you by your insurance company.
We will submit your lab fees to your insurance
If you plan to use insurance to pay for your lab fees, we will submit your insurance information to the lab for billing. Your insurance will be charged the full price of the lab. Enter your insurance information when making your online appointment.
Retesting for COVID-19
I tested positive. When should I get retested?
Retesting is a good idea if you previously tested positive. You should wait at least a week or two after all symptoms have passed.
While some employers require their employees to test negative before returning to work, you may want to retest to know when to end self-isolation or for peace of mind.
You may also consider testing for IgG antibodies to indicate whether or not you have the COVID-19 antibodies. You should wait 1 to 3 weeks before testing as it can take that long after infection for your body to make antibodies.
Cancelling an appointment
What is RapidTestMe's Cancellation Policy?
Due to the limited number of Coronavirus tests, we cannot offer a refund if you cancel your appointment. If you need to reschedule, please call 908-809-3381 at least 24 hours in advance so we can offer your time slot to someone else.
Contact Us
Questions? You can email us or complete our contact form and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
RapidTestMe
1192 Morris Avenue
Union, NJ 07083 (Map)