Healthcare Advice: How Urgent Should COVID-19 Testing be

All the news about vaccination programs can be harmful to the public, especially in states and regions that are still struggling with a surge in cases. For people who have not been vaccinated yet, it’s important to observe precautionary measures whenever interacting with individuals outside their household.

Limitation in testing efforts have been due to the shortage of equipment from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A year into the pandemic, more local and state health departments are more equipped to handle the influx of patients who want to receive COVID-19 testing. Because of this, it’s not an individual’s initiative to know whether they should get tested or not.

Getting COVID-19 testing due to the rise of new COVID-19 variants

 Besides being a mandatory requirement for official procedures and transactions, getting tested for COVID-19 becomes tricky if you’re unsure of your exposure to the virus. Effective testing is necessary not just for yourself but also for others’ safety. Unfortunately, the recent surge in COVID-19 variants can make it dangerous to get tested unless you’re sure you need one.

Thankfully, the CDC has adjusted its recommendations on who should receive COVID-19 testing. Besides people showcasing symptoms of COVID0-19 with a healthcare provider’s recommendation, asymptomatic patients can get tested if they’ve been exposed to people with a confirmed condition. This revised guideline helps your local community reinforce contact tracing methods since it’s vital to rack asymptomatic and pre-asymptomatic transmission. In turn, this allows authorities to document and notify necessary communities.

Deciding when to get COVID-19 testing

Due to the fluctuating incubation period of COVID-19 infection, there’s no direct time that defines when you should get COVID-19 testing. In most cases, a person with the virus can test positive for up to five days at most after contracting it. For this reason, you could test negative for the first three days of infection before COVID-19 symptoms start to manifest. Since it takes three to five days for symptoms to develop, the CDC notes that it’s best to be cautious with engaging with individuals outside your household for up to 14 days.

Receiving results from your COVID-19 test

Many patients can get their test results within 24 hours. However, this largely depends on the healthcare facilities’ capacity at the time. At worst, it may take two weeks before you can receive the results of your test. This is why it’s vital for individuals suspected of having COVID-19 avoid interacting with others or leaving their household whenever possible. During a self-isolation period of two weeks with no noticeable symptoms, it may be safe to assume that you’re free from COVID-19 or didn’t have it at all. However, the line separating the two can be the difference between being a threat to yourself and others.

Different cities and states have unique testing systems, which is why it might be easier or harder to schedule a COVID-19 test. It’s best to consult with your local authorities and healthcare providers to get a clear timeline of your wait time and expected appointment in light of recent events.

Conclusion

Vaccination is only part of the nation’s healing process, and it doesn’t replace the value of getting tested for COVID-19. For this reason, it’s necessary for unvaccinated individuals, and even vaccinated ones, to remain cautious of their actions and interactions with others. Determining your need to visit a reliable healthcare center should be your priority if you’re developing symptoms of any illnesses.

Aspen Medical Center is a locally-owned outpatient medical facility that offers state-of-the-art services for your healthcare needs. If you need to receive immediate COVID testing in Santa Fe, contact our office today.