Bradley A. Lisko, MD
Phillip N. Simon, MD
Meredith Maresco, MSN, APRN, FNP-C
COVID-19 Testing
We get more calls regarding COVID-19 testing than anything else. Testing information changes daily and we will do our best to keep this site updated.
The first question to ask is if you really need to be tested:
-If you are already in quarantine due to exposure to someone with COVID-19, you do not necessarily need to be tested. The purpose of quarantining is to keep others around you safe if you have COVID-19. Negative test results do not guarantee that you do not have COVID-19, so if the test result is not going to change what you need to do, it is not always necessary to get tested.
-Likewise, if a family member is confirmed to have COVID-19 and you develop similar symptoms after exposure, it is very probable that you have COVID-19. Testing you in this situation would not change what you need to do either.
-Some employers require that you test negative to return. In these situations you do not have much choice about getting tested.
-If you are asymptomatic, it is not always wise to get tested. Many of the rapid tests that are available were not designed for testing asymptomatic individuals, even though they are being used for this purpose. These tests are not reliable in this situation, and can provide false confidence, leading to increased exposure to others.