Testing options:

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We are told the the Cares Act includes coverage for COVID testing, so that patients are not charged, but make sure to verify this with wherever you do your test. 

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Larimer County:

https://www.larimer.org/health/communicable-disease/coronavirus-covid-19/covid-19-testing)

 

NoCo Primary Care:We can swab you here at the office. We send out to a company out of state called Diatherix. For self-pay it ends up being about $75 with discounts and if you pay within 45 days of the invoice (but again, this should be covered by the Cares Act or your insurance). We schedule our patients for these tests at 9:00 and 2:00. There is much involved in terms of performing and sending the tests, and therefore we need to schedule at those times. We can send test only on weekdays (but can get results on Saturday for tests done on Friday). We should be getting access to saliva based PCR tests soon, but likely you would have to pay for those as it appears they aren't covered by the CARES Act.

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Walgreens:
Some Walgreens locations offer rapid, 2 hour testing (must drive-up, and only ages 3 and up).
In Northern Colorado, it is offered at the Walgreens at:
1300 14TH ST SW
Loveland, CO 80537
Cross streets: Southeast corner OF TAFT AVE & 14TH ST
Follow the link for screening: https://www.walgreens.com/findcare/covid19/testing?ban=covid_hp_rxtext2

UCHealth:
UCHealth offers testing including some weekend hours: https://www.uchealth.org/services/infectious-diseases/coronavirus-covid-19/covid-19-testing/

 

Banner:
Banner Health Testing info: https://www.bannerhealth.com/patients/patient-resources/covid-19/testing

 

Tests can generally take 36-72 hours to get results, however this can vary based on the lab's volume. We have seen as quickly as 24 hours or as much as 7 days with some labs.

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When to test?:

False negatives can happen, and if you are not having symptoms, but wish to test after an exposure, it is probably best to wait 4-5 days. If you have symptoms, probably day 2 on would provide the most reliable tests.

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What to do if you have been exposed:

(https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/quarantine.html)

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If you have been exposed, you should quarantine. Even if you don't have symptoms, and even if you have a negative COVID-19 test

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Who needs to quarantine?

People who have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19—excluding people who have had COVID-19 within the past 3 months.

People who have tested positive for COVID-19 do not need to quarantine or get tested again for up to 3 months as long as they do not develop symptoms again. People who develop symptoms again within 3 months of their first bout of COVID-19 may need to be tested again if there is no other cause identified for their symptoms.

What counts as close contact?

• You were within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more in a 24 hour period, starting 2 days before the onset of symptoms or positive test in the person you had contact with. 

• You provided care at home to someone who is sick with COVID-19

• You had direct physical contact with the person (hugged or kissed them)

• You shared eating or drinking utensils

• They sneezed, coughed, or somehow got respiratory droplets on you

Steps to take

Stay home and monitor your health

• Stay home for 10 days after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19, as long as you have no symptoms. You may shorten this to 7 days if you have had a negative test for COVID. The best time to do this test is likely about 5 days after your exposure.

• Watch for fever (100.4◦F), cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19

• If possible, stay away from others, especially people who are at higher risk for getting very sick from COVID-19

• Hydrate, rest, and take Vitamin D, 3000 to 5000u daily

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What to do if you are sick:

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https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/isolation.html

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Who needs to isolate?

People who have COVID-19

• People who have symptoms of COVID-19 and are able to recover at home

• People who have no symptoms (are asymptomatic) but have tested positive for infection with SARS-CoV-2

Steps to take

Stay home except to get medical care

• Monitor your symptoms. If you have an emergency warning sign (including trouble breathing), seek emergency medical care immediately

• Stay in a separate room from other household members, if possible

• Use a separate bathroom, if possible

• Avoid contact with other members of the household and pets

• Don’t share personal household items, like cups, towels, and utensils

• Wear a mask when around other people, if you are able to

• Hydrate, rest, and take Vitamin D, 3000 to 5000u daily

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You may return to work and being around people (still using mask and social distancing) when you have been:

• 10 days since symptoms first appeared and

• 24 hours with no fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and

• Other symptoms of COVID-19 are improving*

Learn more about what to do if you are sick.

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