COVID-19 Testing
Testing is an essential component of a multi-layered strategy to prevent sustained transmission of COVID-19 in New York State.
Testing for COVID-19 is available to everyone at NYC Medical of Queens!
All New Yorkers should get a COVID-19 diagnostic test, whether or not they have symptoms or are at increased risk.
Do your part to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your community by getting tested for COVID-19.
You could have COVID-19 and not even know it.
Testing is an essential component of a multi-layered strategy to prevent sustained transmission of COVID-19 in New York State.
It is especially important to get tested if:
- You are experiencing symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, sore throat, muscle pain, shivering, headache, or new loss of taste or smell)
- You have been in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19
- You are an essential worker (health care worker, first responder, food service worker, or transit worker)
- You were recently in a large crowd where social distancing was hard to maintain
- You recently travelled to an area or a state with high COVID-19 infection rates
Two (2) kinds of tests are available for COVID-19 at NYC Medical of Queens: viral tests and antibody tests.
A viral test tells you if you have a current infection. (PCR)
An antibody test might tell you if you had a past infection. An antibody test might not show if you have a current infection because it can take 1–3 weeks after infection for your body to make antibodies. Having antibodies to the virus that causes COVID-19 might provide protection from getting infected with the virus again. If it does, we do not know how much protection the antibodies might provide or how long this protection might last. (IgG)
If you test positive or negative for COVID-19 on a viral or an antibody test, you still should take preventive measures to protect yourself and others!
How You Can Prevent the Spread of COVID-19
Stay home if sick
Only leave for essential medical care or other essential errands.
Keep physical distance
Stay at least 6 feet away from other people.
Keep your hands clean
Wash your hands often with soap and water. Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
Wear a face covering
You can be contagious without symptoms. Protect those around you by wearing a face covering.
How long do results take?
How long it will take to get your test results depends on the test used. Most results are returned in about 3-5 days.
What to do after a viral test
- If you test positive for COVID-19, know what protective steps to take if you are sick.
- If you test negative for COVID-19, you probably were not infected at the time your sample was collected. This does not mean you will not get sick:
- A negative test result only means that you did not have COVID-19 at the time of testing or that your sample was collected too early in your infection.
- You could also be exposed to COVID-19 after the test and then get infected and spread the virus to others.
- If you develop symptoms later, you may need another test to determine if you are infected with the virus that causes COVID-19.
How often should I get tested?
If your first COVID test is negative, you should get tested again if you
- are concerned about possible exposure
- have spent time in a large crowd
- have had exposure to someone with confirmed or possible COVID-19
- have symptoms
- work in a congregate setting like a nursing home or shelter are planning to visit someone at high risk for severe COVID-19 illnes
How to schedule an appointment to get tested?
Call for an appointment: Contact us at 718-406-9111 and you will receive a prompt appointment to get tested.
Email us: You can email us at: [email protected], and we will get back to you in the next 24 hours with the earliest available time to get tested.
Book an appointment through our website: Visit our website: www.nycmedicalofqueens.com, click on the “Book an appointment” option and then, under the “Reason for visit” section, select “COVID-19 Testing”. Enter all the requested information and you will be contacted with your appointment information.
Schedule online. It’s easy, fast and secure.
COVID-19: Symptoms
People with COVID-19 have reported a wide range of symptoms, ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Some people do not have any symptoms.
Symptoms may appear two to 14 days after exposure to the virus. People with the following symptoms may have COVID-19:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
This list does not include all possible symptoms.
Most people with COVID-19 have mild to moderate symptoms and recover on their own. Less commonly, COVID-19 may lead to pneumonia, other severe complications, hospitalization or death.
If you have mild to moderate symptoms, stay home. Do not leave home except to get essential medical care (including testing for COVID-19) or to get basic needs such as groceries, if someone can not get them for you.