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In addition to community testing sites, retail pharmacies, labs and at-home test kits, Baptist Health is offering COVID-19 testing including rapid antigen, PCR and antibody tests at all of our Urgent Care and Urgent Care Express locations. A medical evaluation is required and a provider will discuss the best testing options with you. Tests are fully covered by most insurance plans; however, additional charges related to the visit may apply. Results can be returned as soon as same day.
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At the beginning of this outbreak, we were originally only able to test those who were at highest-risk due to limited lab capacity and resources. As testing procedures have improved, however, we have been able to expand our testing services to the general public.
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All patients who enter a Baptist Health Urgent Care or Urgent Care Express center will be first evaluated by an on-site medical provider to determine the best course of action according to the latest testing guidelines. Unlike private labs or pharmacies, we do not accept outside prescriptions. As an urgent care provider, we must perform our own medical exam.
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No, at Baptist Health Urgent Care and Urgent Care Express locations, no advance prescription is required. Our onsite providers will evaluate you and order the most appropriate test for your situation.
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Yes, all Baptist Health Urgent Care and Urgent Care Express locations offer rapid antigen tests for COVID-19, as well as PCR tests and antibody tests. A medical evaluation is required and a provider will discuss the best testing options with you, if necessary. Tests are fully covered by most insurance plans; however, additional charges related to the visit may apply.
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No, appointments are not necessary for COVID-19 testing. You can walk in to any Urgent Care or Urgent Care Express location.
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Timing matters: the average incubation period of COVID-19 is 2-5 days and up to 14 days after exposure, so testing too early (within just the very first few days directly after travel or an exposure) may not accurately reveal a possible infection. It is ideal to seek testing between 4-14 days after potential exposure. Keep in mind that a negative COVID-19 test result does not mean that you will be negative tomorrow and does not override a state-mandated 14-day quarantine where these measures are in place.
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The rapid antigen test is most sensitive when used on patients within 5 days of experiencing active symptoms. The rapid antigen test may not be as effective in detecting the virus in patients who are not actively experiencing symptoms.
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Yes, if you are asymptomatic and would like to have the most accurate test, we recommend the PCR test.
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Baptist Health Urgent Care and Urgent Care Express locations offer testing for work and travel clearances. However, a medical evaluation is required and a provider will discuss the best testing option, if a test is needed. Tests are fully covered by most insurance plans; however, additional charges related to the visit may apply.
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Please check with your employer or airline and travel destination for the most up to date requirements. The PCR test is the test most often required for travel related clearances. A clearance note can be provided upon request when test results are available.
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When you visit a Baptist Health Urgent Care or Urgent Care Express location your safety is our priority. All our staff members wear protective gear including masks and gloves. We have routine cleaning and sanitation standards that exceed CDC guidelines.
Additionally, you will notice we have made changes to our waiting room to accommodate more space to ensure appropriate social distancing practices to minimize contact with others.
Lastly, while you are in the exam room being tested, you will observe that our providers wear protective clothes, masks and face shields when they collect samples.
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Baptist Health South Florida is adhering to cost-sharing guidelines set forth by the federal government and administered by our patients’ insurance companies. As of October 1, 2020, our billed charge for COVID-19 testing is $150 for a PCR test and $100 for an antigen/antibody test. These prices exclude the cost of any medical evaluation or related services. Recent legislation requires insurance companies to provide coverage for COVID-19 testing and the related visit to perform the test at no cost to the patient for services beginning on March 18, 2020. Insurance companies may apply standard cost sharing for COVID-19 testing services prior to March 18, 2020, and also for services that did not include a COVID-19 test and for COVID-19 treatment. COVID testing for routine surveillance, employee return to work, and travel screening purposes may be excluded from coverage depending on your plan benefits. Please contact your insurance company for additional details.
Uninsured patients who receive COVID-19 testing and care at our facilities may qualify for federal coverage for COVID-19 related services or Baptist Health’s financial assistance program. For any patient without coverage for COVID-19 testing pursuant to the exclusions listed above, the cost for COVID-19 testing and the related medical evaluation at our Urgent Care or Urgent Care Express locations is $199 for 1 test or $279 for any 2 tests on the same visit. -
No, Baptist Health does not operate as a COVID-19 community testing site. We are required to provide a medical evaluation to any seeking care at any of our facilities to provide the best treatment options. To find a free community testing site near you, click the appropriate link below.
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If you are looking for a no-cost COVID-19 testing option, you can contact the Florida Department of Health directly by calling the Coronavirus Hotline at 1-866-779-6121 or emailing COVID-19@flhealth.gov.
To research more about the COVID-19 Testing, please visit the CDC website.
What is the difference between the various COVID-19 tests offered?
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The Rapid Antigen Test is also known as the "Rapid Test"
What is it?
A diagnostic test that can detect active infection quickly by identifying viral proteins.
Who should be tested?
Symptomatic Patients
Accurate for most Individuals who are currently experiencing coronavirus symptoms.
For most accurate results, patients should be experiencing coronavirus symptoms within the first 5 days of disease.
What kind of sample is taken?
Nasopharyngeal swab is the specimen of choice.
How soon do patients get results?
Results are usually available on the same or next day.
How accurate is it?
Very Accurate for Symptomatic Patients
Positive results are highly accurate, but negative results may need confirmation from a PCR test
Is the test FDA approved through the Emergency Use Authorization designation?
Yes.
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The PCR Test is also known as the "Molecular test", "RNA test", or "Diagnostic test."
What is it?
A diagnostic test that can detect active infection by identifying the genetic material of the virus.
Who should be tested?
Symptomatic or Asymptomatic Patients
Individuals who are currently experiencing coronavirus symptoms (and some who are asymptomatic as prioritized by the CDC (e.g. surgery patients).
For most accurate results, patients should be experiencing coronavirus symptoms within the first 5 days of disease.
What kind of sample is taken?
Nasopharyngeal swab is the specimen of choice.
How soon do patients get results?
Typically within 2-3 days of testing (May vary based on volumes).
How accurate is it?
Most Accurate
Considered the gold standard of COVID-19 testing. The PCR is highly accurate, usually does not need to be repeated except to test for continued infection.
Is the test FDA approved through the Emergency Use Authorization designation?
Yes.
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The Antibody Test is also known as the "blood test" or "serological test."
What is it?
A test that detects antibodies the immune system created in response to past infection.
Who should be tested?
Asymptomatic Patients
Individuals who think they may have had COVID-19 or think they have been exposed but don’t have symptoms now, or individuals who were confirmed Covid positive and are looking to donate their plasma to help a patient with Covid-19 infection.
For the most accurate results it is best to wait approximately 14 days from COVID exposure/symptoms before having the antibody test.
What kind of sample is taken?
Blood draw.
How soon do patients get results?
Results in 1-3 days.
How accurate is it?
Very Accurate
Occasionally, a second antibody test may be recommended.
Is the test FDA approved through the Emergency Use Authorization designation?
Yes.
Baptist Health Testing Sites
Visit any Baptist Health Urgent Care or Urgent Care Express location to get tested for COVID-19.
COVID-19 Test Results
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If you were tested for COVID-19 at a Baptist Health location, you will be contacted by text message or phone when your results are available. You will need to validate certain patient demographics to receive your results via text.
Many patients will be able to view their results in their patient portal as soon as those results are available. You may access the patient portal in the links below. Please note, to protect the privacy of minors ages 12-17, portal access is not available for patients in that age group. You may request medical records online for patients ages 12-17 by visiting the medical records page. At this time, results are not available in the patient portal for Bethesda Hospital East or Bethesda Hospital West.
Patient Portal Links:
Boca Raton Regional Hospital All other Baptist Health Locations
Patients may also request their medical records, which include their COVID-19 test results, online by visiting the medical records page.
If you have other questions about testing or accessing your results, call 833-692-2784.
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Most of the Antigen test results are available same day. The PCR and Antibody samples are sent to private labs for testing. Results for those may take up to 3 days to process. In the meantime, continue to follow the guidance of our medical professionals and stay home. If your symptoms worsen, contact your primary care physician or use the Baptist Health Care On Demand telehealth app.
It is highly recommended that you talk to your doctor, who can determine if you meet the criteria established by the Florida Department of Health for testing. If you do not have a doctor, or he or she is unavailable, Baptist Health offers online doctor visits on our Baptist Health PineApp. Or, you can contact the Florida Department of Health directly by calling the Coronavirus Hotline at 1-866-779-6121 or emailing COVID-19@flhealth.gov.
High-Risk Individuals
Older adults and people who have severe underlying chronic medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 illness.
People at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19 should contact their healthcare provider early, even if their illness is mild.
Baptist Health uses a combination of external and in-house testing. Some tests may be conducted by the Molecular Diagnostic Lab at Baptist Hospital, which received approval from the FDA for an in-house test developed by the lab. Click here for information about this new test.