Rapid Testing -- by appointment

We administer rapid tests for three types of illnesses at The Pharmacy at Wellington:

• COVID-19 test - curbside - call us from your car - 501-747-4291
• Influenza assessment and test - curbside - call us from your car - 501-747-4291
• Strep throat assessment and test - in a room at The Pharmacy - please call us when you arrive at the parking lot so we can let you know where to go

Types of tests we have and the differences between them:

We have antigen tests and PCR tests and they detect different parts of a virus using different methods.  Antigen tests, used especially when a person has symptoms, detect specific proteins on the surface of a virus.  PCR tests, considered the "gold standard", detect a virus' genetic material and is considered the more accurate of the two types of tests.

Which to choose:

• To choose between an antigen and a PCR test, consider how accurate you need the results to be vs. the cost.  You can see prices by clicking on the beige booking button above.  The PCR test is for both Flu and COVID-19 (can't separate it).  The Strep test that we administer is an antigen test (don't have a PCR option).
• For Flu and Strep, testing should take place within 2 days of symptom onset.  For COVID-19, testing can happen between 2 and 5 days of symptom onset.
• Choose a test based on your symptoms.  For example, if you have a sore throat, you might consider getting a Strep test.  To note, flu and COVID-19 symptoms can be quite similar.
• We can administer a Strep test and a COVID-19 test to individuals 3 years and older and a Flu test to individuals 5 years and older.
• If you have trouble deciding which test(s) to book, please feel free to call us (501-708-4320) and we'll walk you through the options.  Please note that you will still need to book online.

Additional information:

For each of the tests we administer, you will receive verbal results within an hour (if positive) and emailed results within two hours. None of these tests require a prescription.

Some insurances, such as Medicare, cover at-home COVID-19 tests. Please feel free to ask us to check your insurance for you.

We also email you a receipt, so please ensure that you type in your email correctly.

Click on the booking link above for our current testing times. You can reschedule online up to 2 hours before your appointment time by signing back into the Booking page. You may also call us (501-708-4320) to reschedule or to book.

If our pharmacist or nurse determines that you should not be tested at the time of your appointment, or you cancel your appointment online, you will receive a refund minus a $5 administration fee. "No Shows" will not receive a refund.  if you have canceled your test appointment and would like a refund, please call or email us as the system does not allow an automatic refund so we must process it manually.

References and further information:

• CDC on Strep Throat - https://www.cdc.gov/groupastrep/diseases-public/strep-throat.html
• CDC, Q&A - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/facts.html
• Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security - https://www.centerforhealthsecurity.org/covid-19TestingToolkit/testing-basics/types-of-COVID-19-tests/antigen-and-molecular-tests.html 
  
• Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, Antigen and Molecular Tests - https://www.centerforhealthsecurity.org/covid-19TestingToolkit/testing-basics/types-of-COVID-19-tests/antigen-and-molecular-tests.html
• Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, Table of tests, including type, sensitivity, and specificity - https://www.centerforhealthsecurity.org/covid-19TestingToolkit/molecular-based-tests/current-molecular-and-antigen-tests.html#commercial
• Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, Sensitive and Specificity Fact Sheet - https://www.centerforhealthsecurity.org/resources/COVID-19/COVID-19-fact-sheets/201207-sensitivity-specificty-factsheet.pdf
• Visby PCR test Patient Fact Sheet - https://www.fda.gov/media/142227/download
  
• Visby Medical, What is PCR - https://www.visbymedical.com/news/what-is-pcr-and-why-is-it-the-only-testing-technique-doctors-and-the-covid-data-community-trust
• Accula PCR test Patient Fact Sheet - https://www.fda.gov/media/136349/download
• FDA re testing for COVID-19 - https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/coronavirus-disease-2019-testing-basics
• US National Library of Medicine on Immune Response - https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000821.htm