We wrote recently about testing options, such as these Covid test packs being handed out at DC Public Libraries. They promise results in a few days. But what if you need results faster?
Rapid and same-day testing, like vaccinations, are important Covid-fighting tools. But they are not widely available, or cheap.
And searches online for fast in-person testing can send you far afield. For some reason, a local pharmacy offering same-day results did not pop up in my search results. Pill Plus Pharmacy (4215 Connecticut Avenue NW) has walk-up same-day testing for $150, fully reimbursable by insurance. Pill Plus also sells at-home rapid tests for $45.
Rapid at-home test kits start at $24 dollars at CVS, when they’re in stock. At last check, even CVS.com was sold out.
At CVS pharmacies offering in-person testing, they’re promising PCR results in one to two days. They don’t accept walk-ins, but appointments can be made the same day. And the tests are free for the insured and uninsured (through a federal program). The CVS testing website does not list any neighborhood sites (the closest in DC is at 6514 Georgia Avenue NW), but call your local pharmacy first. Sometimes the website and services provided do not sync well.
At the SameDay Health location in Georgetown (3237 Wisconsin Avenue NW), there’s a $250 PCR test with results in an hour. If you can wait 16 hours, its PCR Priority test promises results in 16 hours or less for $75 (the insured rate) or $150 (the self-pay rate). This reporter got results in less time.
Have you found convenient places for fast Covid tests? Help us and your neighbors with a comment below.
Daphna says
There’s also a Sameday testing site in Bethesda that’s drive-up. An insurance-reimbursed test there on Friday at 4 p.m. with a promised turnaround time of 40 hours returned results by Saturday at 3 p.m. It was a bit of a hike drive-wise, but the car felt safer for our toddler than the walk-up line in Georgetown, and helped keep him a little calmer, too.
Dorothy Levy says
Where / who in Bethesda?
FHC says
The service is called Sameday. There are two locations in Bethesda:
https://app.samedayhealth.com/booking/maryland–bethesda–nicholson-lane
https://app.samedayhealth.com/booking/maryland–bethesda–westfield-mall
Leslie Cordes says
LJ Medical has a popup trailer with drive up service in the parking lot across from the old Lord & Taylor. Register on line and you are in and out in 3 minutes with a PCR test. My husband and I have been tested there twice over the past couple of months and the results came within a day and were reimbursed by insurance. Stay clear of MedStar Urgent Care across from Saks in Friendship Heights – took 4 days to get results and if you didn’t have COVID before you went, an hour and a half in the packed waiting room (even with an appointment) is bound to expose you,
Gawain Kripke says
very helpful, thank you.
Annie says
Did the reporter get tested at Pill Plus and find it reputable? Trying to decide between using that pharmacy versus Sameday in advance of travel.
Dorothy Levy says
An hour and a half wait in the cold to get a test at the fire station yesterday!
Stephen Mink says
There were a very long line at the Cleveland Park Library distribution location for the free rapid antigen home test kit, and stock ran out before the line did. Other sites ended the day with kits for everyone who showed up. Very useful information is at the DC coronavirus website – https://coronavirus.dc.gov/rapidantigen – which on the evening of 22 December showed:
TestYourself Rapid Antigen Live Inventory
Mt. Pleasant Library 3160 16th St. NW 8:24 PM 371 tests remaining at end of day
West End Library 2301 L St. NW 7:59 PM 1213 tests remaining at end of day
Woodridge Library 1801 Hamlin St. NE 7:58 PM 450 tests remaining at end of day
Petworth Library 4200 Kansas Ave. NW 7:57 PM 1511 tests remaining at end of day
Capitol View Library 5001 Central Ave. SE 7:53 PM 2058 tests remaining at end of day
Cleveland Park Library 3310 Connecticut Ave. NW 7:42 PM 0 tests remaining at end of day
Shaw Library 1630 7th St. NW 7:03 PM 420 tests remaining
Anacostia Library 1800 Good Hope Rd. SE 11:26 AM No report of inventory today