Looking for COVID-19 Testing?

We offer COVID-19 viral and antibody testing at our Sultan location. We do not offer walk-ins for COVID-19 testing. You are required to schedule an appointment online or call. For a COVID-19 viral test, we will ask that you remain in your vehicle. For antibody COVID-19 testing, you will need to be in-office as it’s a blood draw, but if you have COVID-19 or symptoms unfortunately we will not be able to do the test. For more details, please keep reading below.

Types of COVID-19 Tests

COVID-19 tests are available that can test for current infection with a viral test or past infection with an antibody test.

  • A viral test tells you if you have a current infection. Two types of viral tests can be used: nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) also known as a PCR test and antigen tests also known as a rapid antigen test. We offer both a rapid antigen test as well as a NAAT PCR test that gets sent to a lab for analysis; both test are done by a nasal swab.
  • An antibody test (also known as a serology test) might tell you if you had COVID-19 in the past. Antibody tests should not be used to diagnose current COVID-19 infection. This test requires a blood draw in-office.
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Who Should Get Tested for Current COVID-19 Infection?

  • People who have symptoms of COVID-19.
  • Most people who have had close contact (within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period) with someone with confirmed COVID-19.
    • Fully vaccinated people should be tested 5-7 days following a known exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 and wear a mask in public indoor settings for 14 days or until they receive a negative test result.
    • People who have tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 3 months and recovered do not need to get tested following an exposure as long as they do not develop new symptoms.
  • Unvaccinated people who have taken part in activities that put them at higher risk for COVID-19 because they cannot physically distance as needed to avoid exposure, such as travel, attending large social or mass gatherings, or being in crowded or poorly-ventilated indoor settings.
  • People who have been asked or referred to get tested by their healthcare provider, or state, tribal, local external icon, or territorial health department.

Anyone with any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 get tested, regardless of vaccination status or prior infection. If you get tested because you have symptoms or were potentially exposed to the virus, you should stay away from others pending test results.

3 Key Steps to Take While Waiting for Your COVID-19 Test Result

What Your Test Results Mean

If Your COVID-19 Viral Test is Positive

If you test positive for the virus that causes COVID-19, take the following steps to protect others regardless of your COVID-19 vaccination status: Isolate at home and isolate away from others for at least 10 days.

  • If you do not have any symptoms, you should still isolate at home for at least 10 days.
  • If you develop symptoms, continue to isolate for at least 10 days after symptoms began as long as symptoms have improved, and no fever is present for at least 24 hours without use of fever-reducing medications.
  • Most people have mild COVID-19 illness and can recover at home without medical care.
  • Contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible if you are more likely to get very sick because of being an older adult or having underlying medical conditions or if your symptoms get worse.

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Talk to your healthcare provider or local health department to find out how long to isolate if you:

  • Are severely ill with COVID-19 or have a weakened immune system;
  • Had a positive test result followed by a negative result; or
  • Test positive for many weeks after the initial result.

If Your COVID-19 Viral Test is Negative

If you test negative for the virus that causes COVID-19, the virus was not detected. user md chat light icon

If you have symptoms of COVID-19:

  • You may have received a false negative test result and still might have COVID-19. You should isolate away from others.
  • Contact your healthcare provider about your symptoms, especially if they worsen, about follow-up testing, and how long to isolate.

If you do not have symptoms of COVID-19, and  you were exposed to a person with COVID-19:

  • You are likely not infected, but you still may get sick.
  • Self-quarantine at home for 14 days after your exposure.
    • Persons who are fully vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccine do not need to self-quarantine at home
      • For residents of non-healthcare congregate settings (e.g. correctional and detention facilities, group homes) and employees of residential congregate settings and high-density workplaces (e.g. meat and poultry processing and manufacturing plants), refer to CDC’s recommendations for fully vaccinated people.
  • Contact your local health department regarding options to reduce the length of quarantine. If symptoms develop during home quarantine:
    • Contact your healthcare provider about follow-up testing; and
    • Isolate at home separated away from others.

If you do not have symptoms of COVID-19 and do not have a known exposure to a person with COVID-19:

  • You do not need to self-quarantine.

Antibody Testing for Past COVID-19 Infection

Antibody or serology tests look for antibodies in your blood that fight the virus that causes COVID-19.

  • Antibodies are proteins created by your immune system that help you fight off infections. They are made after you have been infected or have been vaccinated against an infection.
  • Vaccination is a safe, effective way to teach your body to create antibodies.
  • Antibodies can protect you from getting those infections for some period of time afterward. How long this protection lasts is different for each disease and each person.­
  • Antibody tests should generally not be used to diagnose a current infection with the virus that causes COVID-19. An antibody test may not show if you have a current infection because it can take 1 to 3 weeks after the infection for your body to make antibodies.

If Your COVID-19 Antibody Test is Positive

  • A positive antibody test result shows you may have antibodies from a previous infection or from vaccination for the virus that causes COVID-19.
  • Some antibodies made for the virus that causes COVID-19 provide protection from getting infected. CDC is evaluating antibody protection and how long protection from antibodies might last. Cases of reinfection and infection after vaccination have been reported, but remain rare. But getting vaccinated, even if you have already had COVID-19, can help your body make more of these antibodies.
  • You may test positive for antibodies even if you have never had symptoms of COVID-19 or have not yet received a COVID-19 vaccine. This can happen if you had an infection without symptoms, which is called an asymptomatic infection.
  • Sometimes a person can test positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies when they do not actually have those specific antibodies. This is called a false positive.
  • Talk with your healthcare professional about your test result and the type of test you took to understand what your result means. Your healthcare professional may suggest you take a second type of antibody test to see if the first test was accurate.

If Your COVID-19 Antibody Test is Negative

  • You may not have COVID-19 antibodies. This could be because you have not had an infection with the virus that causes COVID-19 or have not received a COVID-19 vaccine.
  • Some antibody tests will only detect antibodies from infection, not from vaccination with the virus that causes COVID-19.
  • You could have a current infection, been recently infected, or been recently vaccinated. It typically takes 1 to 3 weeks after infection or vaccination for your body to make antibodies. If you are infected, you may get sick and spread the virus before you develop antibodies.
    • Some people may take even longer to develop antibodies, and a small portion of people who are infected or vaccinated may never develop antibodies.
  • Sometimes people test negative for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies when they have those specific antibodies. This is called a false negative.
  • Talk with your healthcare professional about your test result and the type of test you took to understand what your result means.

Are Viral COVID-19 Tests Free?

In most instances, your viral COVID-19 test is free. In instances such as travel/work-related/recreation (ie. to go to a concert), your commercial insurance may not cover viral COVID-19 testing as it may be deemed medically unnecessary, while some insurances may pay for such testing. You should consult with your insurance to determine coverage prior to any services. In situations were you have symptoms or have been exposed to COVID-19, your testing is free during the federal Public Health Emergency, withstanding any new regulations or laws. Those that do not have health insurance, you may also get viral COVID-19 testing done for free. Either way, we do not deny anyone a viral COVID-19 test even if we are unsure of the coverage, including viral COVID-19 testing before any major surgery! When in doubt, refer to the CDC or the WA Department of Health for guidance.

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NOTICE: This web page may not reflect the most current information related to COVID-19 testing and you should consult the CDC or WA Department of Health for up-to-date information.