The false negative rates of the finger ***** rapid tests are really high, like at best 20%

Which one did you go to? I need to get a test done.

HotardAg07 said:

---

The false negative rates of the finger ***** rapid tests are really high, like at best 20%

---

That doesn't seem like a bad thing imo. Better than a lot of misleading data going around.

Signature ER is doing online appts for the rapid test. The booking window is for 48 hours out and refreshes every hour, so if you check on the hour you should be able to get a slot 2 days out. It's $175 or they can bill your insurance. I don't recommend that though, because they'll bill your insurance for a full ER visit and that could get messy.

Hope this helps.

Took me 7 days to get testing results back from Delmar site (yesterday). No rona.

I went to that Elite ER on the gulf freeway several days ago. They told us that no money is collected up front. But that they will bill the insurance company. And then whatever our ER copays were ... that would then be billed to us later. So even though their process seemed convenient, we didn't want a bill later for several hundred bucks. Didn't do it there. I'm guessing plenty of folks are going to get a surprise bill in the mail in several weeks.

Did that BreatheMD one on Monday and got my results early Wednesday morning. Negative.

My family and I will need a PCR test with a quick turnaround to be able to get on a plane later this month. Anyone know of a place that tests on Sundays and can get result back by Wednesday mornings? Looks like BreathMD is closed on weekends.

BreathMD would probably get your test back to you by then if you test early Monday morning.

They advertise 36hrs to 3 days but in another thread someone was saying they had results in 24 hours.

Entrust Urgent Care on Memorial takes walk-ups for Rapid Covid Test. Test results Same Day (about 1 to 2 hours after the swab). If provider (Dr.) is on site they take insurance and things take longer. If provider is not on site it's $175 out of pocket and you file later with insurance (I haven't done this yet so don't know how much trouble it will be)

Whole process takes about 2 to 3 hours. They open at 6am. I got there at 6:30 am and was #20 in line.

You sign up and wait in your car until they call you. This took the longest - make sure they write your number down correctly.

Who really knows if any of these are accurate.

Thanks, but the rapid test won't work for the trip. Need a PCR test.

Got my COVID test result in under 2 days from Breathe MD -- pretty amazing considering it took my wife 12 days to get her results.

Why do you get tested? Who cares if you feel a little sick?

thenational said:

---

Why do you get tested? Who cares if you feel a little sick?

---

I can think of plenty of reasons:

1) it is a requirement for their work
2) it is a requirement to be allowed entry for somewhere they are travelling
3) It is required before they can see the doctor to get treated for non-covid issues
4) they want to make sure they don't have it before visiting elderly friends and/or relatives who are in a high risk demographic
5) they care about the family members and friends and don't want to pass it along to them unnecessarily
6) studies are showing that early treatment before severe disease symptoms and hospitalization occur lead to a better prognosis for recovery without lingering issues.

What if you just thought you had a cold? Would not cross my mind because it doesn't matter.

thenational said:

---

What if you just thought you had a cold? Would not cross my mind because it doesn't matter.

---

If you think you just have a cold, but you are going to visit your diabetic 79 year old father in law for father's day, is it worth it to just chance it and go anyway? How would you feel if you later turned up positive and he died because you took it to him? Do you think your wife would ever forgive you for killing her dad?

Nope, because people that age are locking down. Just saying I would never wait for a test that might be correct for something that is not deadly.

thenational said:

---

Why do you get tested? Who cares if you feel a little sick?

---

In the most respectful tone possible, what the **** kinda question is this.

In the most respectful tone possible, what the **** does it matter? Would you normally go get tested for a cold?

Candidly, it's none of your business. I paid money for a service that was offered that I wanted. I have spend money in more frivolous ways and plan to be wasteful in the future as well. That is my prerogative.

HotardAg07 said:

---

Candidly, it's none of your business. I paid money for a service that was offered that I wanted. I have spend money in more frivolous ways and plan to be wasteful in the future as well. That is my prerogative.

---

Just curious if any of y'all that went to the Signature ER are getting these supposed $3000 bills for services.

I just noticed my insurance (BCBS) is in the middle of processing my family's claims from our test (4 of us) at Memorial Village ER and each is ~$2K. Now we will see what the allowed amounts are, but talk about scamming the system.

My employer told me COVID testing for me and my family was 100% covered via our health plan so we shall see.

sushi94 said:

---

Entrust Urgent Care on Memorial takes walk-ups for Rapid Covid Test. Test results Same Day (about 1 to 2 hours after the swab). If provider (Dr.) is on site they take insurance and things take longer. If provider is not on site it's $175 out of pocket and you file later with insurance (I haven't done this yet so don't know how much trouble it will be)

Whole process takes about 2 to 3 hours. They open at 6am. I got there at 6:30 am and was #20 in line.

You sign up and wait in your car until they call you. This took the longest - make sure they write your number down correctly.

Who really knows if any of these are accurate.

---

But at least you get a heat stroke waiting.

FHKChE07 said:

---

Just curious if any of y'all that went to the Signature ER are getting these supposed $3000 bills for services.

---

That's why I paid $175 cash. They tell you they will accept insurance and bill it as an ER visit. It's definitely scammy but not surprising that people are getting huge bills now.

thenational said:

---

In the most respectful tone possible, what the **** does it matter? Would you normally go get tested for a cold?

---

This is stupid.

TLDR: Rapid tests are not good enough for return to work, PCR tests are taking too long right now to help speed up return to work and shouldn't be used on people who have previously tested positive in last 3 months.

As the person responsible in my company for our COVID plans, coordinating with clients on COVID response, and having had to deal with several suspected and actual infection events my understanding and our company's policies and those of our clients have evolved with respect to testing and return to work protocols since between March and now.

Because of the testing situation in Texas at the moment, we are seeing the majority of our suspected cases being managed under the time-based, symptom base CDC criteria as PCR tests are taking longer to get an appointment, anywhere from 3 to 5 days typically after first report of symptoms, which means that by the time we get results back, they have "timed out". We initially relied on rapid anti-body testing, but no longer use it for return to work, but instead as quick feedback since a positive anti-body test will 99% of the time result in a positive PCR test. i.e. It is good for giving feedback that may allow an individual to take more decisive action in treating themselves and alerting others and help contribute to minimizing the spread, but otherwise is worthless for determining if a person can safely return to work any sooner than allowed under the CDC's current time-based/symptom based strategy for ending self-isolation.

As for the testing options available, based on my experience here is how I would rank them:

1. PCR Saliva - Pro's: alleged to be more accurate than Nasal Swab, currently seeing superior turnaround times compared to PCR Nasal swab (2-5 days), so far slightly less expensive than PCR, more comfortable specimen collection
Con's: Not as widely available. Less efficacy data available. May detect COVID for up to 3 months after infection so not recommended to be used to assess a previously positive individual for return to work.

2. PCR Nasal Swab - Pro's: very accurate
Con's: Depending on your area can be hard to get, long turnaround times at labs in Texas (8 to 15 days currently) due to testing backlogs, more expensive. May detect COVID for up to 3 months after infection so not recommended to be used to assess a previously positive individual for return to work.

3. Antigen Nasal Swab - Pro's: Rapid test that actually tests for virus RNA. More accurate than Rapid Anti-body test.
Con's: Still has high rate of false negatives. Not widely available. Has typically been more expensive than PCR test. Negative results not considered reliable enough for return to work.

4. Rapid Anti-body - Pro's: Quick, readily available, inexpensive. Provide means of early detection to allow quicker response to infection
Con's: Negative results not considered reliable enough for return to work.

This is good stuff. Thanks for posting that.

I had to get tested Sunday morning after exposure (the previous Wed) to someone that tested positive Saturday. I called EnTrust on Memorial and asked about the wait. They said there was no line and if I was using insurance i should come then. I pulled up, filled out the paperwork, waited about 10min, got swabbed, then got a call about an hour later to come get my (negative) result. My parents live near by in Rice Military so I went and hung out at their house until I got the call.

What I can't understand about testing is the past few weeks the testing facility had lines around the block and into the feeder of the Grand Parkway. The past 3 days there have been maybe 10 people in line? Why the sudden decline in testing? It doesn't make sense.

Went to Toyota Center yesterday morning to get the antibodies test. It was such an easy process....from when I parked to walking through to the testing center to getting my blood drawn and leaving was less than 5 minutes. There are designated parking spots <50 yards from the entrance. You then show them your ID and get a temp check, then walk through a metal detector. Go up to the 2nd floor suite area and there are like 15 curtained off spots where they draw your blood. That was quick as well. Plenty of signage to get you in and out quickly. My insurance covered it & you can register here....

https://covid-19.pilot.genalyte.com/?city=houston

Maybe they figured out a way to make it less disruptive by giving out tickets to come back later or making appointments online... That or people realized there isn't really much benefit of testing if it takes 8-15 days to get results back...

StillNotAnAggie said:

---

What I can't understand about testing is the past few weeks the testing facility had lines around the block and into the feeder of the Grand Parkway. The past 3 days there have been maybe 10 people in line? Why the sudden decline in testing? It doesn't make sense.

---

People figured out if there are too many positives they are stuck with their kids for 6 more weeks and locked the gates to their neighborhoods so people could not go out and get tested.

Good to know. I was calling them for my wife. Said the same thing.

Head Ninja In Charge said:

---

Did that BreatheMD one on Monday and got my results early Wednesday morning. Negative.

---

I had a very similar experience as you, less the taquitos. Got tested yesterday at 10:00am and got results back just now (~36 hours).