COVID-19 causes most people little more than a mild illness, but it can be deadly for others. The Umbrella HealthCare team in Phoenix, Arizona, offers COVID testing to see whether you have the infection, even if you have no symptoms. These tests help protect you, your loved ones, and your community from the potentially life-threatening consequences of a severe infection. To arrange your COVID test, call Umbrella HealthCare today or book an appointment online.

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What is COVID testing?

COVID testing establishes whether you have the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 or have had it in the past. There are two kinds of COVID tests:

Viral COVID testing

A viral test confirms if you have SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. One test is a nasal and/or throat swab that gives rapid results. A more accurate result comes from testing a sample of blood. However, this takes several days, whereas the rapid COVID test takes no more than 30 minutes.

Antibody COVID testing

Your immune system creates antibodies if you’re exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The antibodies fight the virus so you recover, then your immune system stores a copy of the antibody for a while in case you encounter the SARS-CoV-2 virus again.

If you have COVID-19 antibodies, it means you’ve had the infection already, although you might not realize you had it if you were asymptomatic, meaning you didn’t get sick from COVID. You’d also have COVID-19 antibodies if you’ve had COVID vaccine shots.

When should I undergo COVID testing?

You should have a COVID test if you develop symptoms of the infection, such as:

  • Fever or chills
  • A new, ongoing cough
  • Loss of taste or smell
  • Shortness of breath
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headache
  • Sore throat
  • Nasal congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea

You might want to ensure you haven’t got COVID-19 if you care for vulnerable people. These would include older adults, people with underlying health problems like diabetes or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and anyone who has lowered immunity.

Some places might require proof of your vaccination status or a negative COVID test before you visit.

Why is COVID testing so important?

SARS-CoV-2 has been around for only a few years, so natural immunity is low. Vaccination helps enormously but doesn’t guarantee immunity. COVID spreads easily, and new strains develop all the time, posing various degrees of danger.

For most people, COVID-19 is like having a cold, and others get no symptoms at all. However, a significant minority of people develop severe illnesses. They may recover but have life-changing aftereffects, and many people who get seriously ill die from COVID-19.

COVID testing identifies infected people so they can avoid spreading the infection to others.

To take advantage of Umbrella HealthCare’s convenient COVID testing service, call the office today or book your test online.