COVID-19 Testing at One Medical

Updated December 20, 2021.

We have tested hundreds of thousands of patients across the country for COVID-19 since we began testing in early March of 2020. Here’s the latest information on our testing services, when it’s most appropriate, and how you can get care.

One Medical is providing COVID-19 testing for anyone who has coronavirus concerns, regardless of symptoms. While we continue to believe that widespread testing is essential to curbing the spread of coronavirus, timing matters. Testing too early or too late could miss the infection and lead to inaccurate results (a so-called “false negative” result). For example, when returning from travel, immediate testing is unlikely to give you complete information about exposure during your trip. Here’s when you should get tested to get the most accurate results:

If you’ve been exposed:

• If you’re fully vaccinated: As no vaccine is 100% effective at preventing illness, we do expect a small percentage of people who are fully vaccinated to get COVID-19 if they are exposed. If you have completed the COVID-19 vaccine series more than two weeks ago, we recommend testing five to seven days after your exposure. While no quarantine is required if you’ve been fully vaccinated, you should wear a mask in public indoor settings (or at home if you lived with someone who is immunocompromised or unvaccinated) for 14 days or until you receive a negative test result. It’s also important to monitor yourself for symptoms and self-isolate if you develop symptoms at any time.
• If you aren’t fully vaccinated: If you have not completed the COVID-19 vaccine series at least two weeks ago, we recommend testing five days or more after exposure. During this time you should stay home and quarantine for 14 days to keep you and your community safe.

If you’ve recently traveled:

• If you’re fully vaccinated: Even if you’re not experiencing symptoms, you may have been exposed to COVID-19 during your travels. If you’ve recently traveled internationally, you should get tested three to five days after returning. If you traveled within the U.S. only, you should self-monitor for symptoms and get tested if you start experiencing any.
• If you aren’t fully vaccinated: If you have not completed the COVID-19 vaccine series at least 2 weeks ago, you should get tested three to five days after returning. You should also stay home and self-quarantine for a full seven days after travel, even if you test negative at three to five days.

Please note that the CDC does continue to advise against unnecessary travel for those who aren’t fully vaccinated. If you’re not fully vaccinated and must travel, be sure to check local requirements for the location(s) you are visiting and returning to ensure you comply with their health and safety laws, rules, and regulations, which may include providing test results before and/or after travel. To best protect yourself and others from COVID-19, the CDC recommends getting tested one to three days before traveling. It’s also important to remember that a negative COVID-19 test doesn’t eliminate the risk associated with travel or override locally-mandated quarantine where these measures are in place. For more on travel during COVID-19, see here.

Given the current case levels and testing constraints our nation is once again experiencing, we continue to urge people to follow the CDC’s guidance on how to protect yourself and others from spreading COVID-19. One Medical’s highest priority is to ensure the health and safety of our members and our communities. We will continue to work in close coordination with the departments of public health in all the markets we serve, and keep you updated on the latest guidance.

PCR tests are used to detect whether you have a current COVID-19 infection. This is the highest quality test for COVID as it detects the virus’s genetic material. It can be used to identify infection for those with and without symptoms using a nasal or throat swab.

Rapid PCR tests detect the presence of COVID-19 in the same way standard PCR tests do, but can be processed on-site and produce same-day results. Unlike rapid antigen tests, they are authorized for individuals both with and without symptoms.

Rapid antigen tests detect specific proteins on the surface of the virus. For people who have active symptoms of infection, antigen tests are very good at determining whether the symptoms are due to COVID-19. While antigen tests can be read within minutes, they’re less sensitive than PCR tests, and therefore more clinically useful among symptomatic patients. Accordingly, we recommend PCR for most patients, though your provider will determine what testing is optimal for your unique circumstances during your testing visit.

Antibody testing is used to detect past exposure, not an active infection. It is not yet known whether the presence of COVID-19 antibodies determine immunity to the infection. Because antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 begin to wane within weeks of infection, for most people antibody tests won’t yield helpful information. Learn more about antibody testing here.

We’re currently offering PCR testing to anyone with coronavirus concerns by appointment in all markets where we have offices. If you’re interested in antibody testing, please book an appointment with your provider to discuss whether it is the right option for you.

We are testing kids 14 and younger at all offices in locations where we offer pediatric services, including the San Francisco Bay Area, New York, Phoenix, Chicago, Los Angeles, Orange County, and Portland, by appointment. Children over the age of 14 can be tested at any One Medical location in all markets with an appointment.

If you have questions about your child’s symptoms, or your child needs to be examined, it is best to book a “sick visit” with one of our Family Practice providers. COVID-19 testing appointments are for testing only, while “sick visits” allow for time with a provider to ask questions and examine your child. Of course, you can always reach out to our virtual medical team with more urgent concerns. Please note that if multiple kids are being tested, each family member needs their own appointment, which can be booked on the One Medical app. For more information on COVID-19 and kids, see here.

We offer three different types of appointments through which you can be tested for COVID-19. When you click on “COVID-19 Care” in the One Medical app, you will be presented with three options: “COVID-19 Rapid PCR Test”, “COVID-19 PCR Test” and “COVID-19 Symptoms Consult & Testing”. The first two options include only a test sample collection. The “Rapid” option will get your result back to you within 24 hours. This is ideal for travel or time-sensitive situations. Due to limited testing supplies for this type of testing, please only use this if the 2-3 day result time frame of the standard “PCR Test” doesn’t meet your needs. These are both five to ten minute appointments at a One Medical office or testing site, intended for those seeking access to testing alone. If you would like more time with a provider to review your symptoms, select the second option, “COVID-19 Symptoms Consult & Testing.” This is a 30 minute appointment offered in our offices only, intended for individuals looking to be examined and personally discuss their symptoms and treatment plan in addition to completing all relevant testing.

Appointment availability will vary based on the testing demand in your area at any given time. Please know that we are doing all that we can to provide testing for everyone who needs it. If there is not an appointment available at your desired time and location, we recommend continuing to check within the app, as new appointments are added as testing slots open up throughout the day.

One Medical is not charging any fees directly to patients for testing services or specimen collection. However, the labs processing these tests are. While most national insurance payers have committed to covering these testing costs, you may receive a bill from the lab if you are uninsured. If you receive other services in addition to COVID testing in the same visit, you will receive a standard bill for the additional services.

Lab processing times are currently an average of 2-3 days. However, this may vary by demand for testing in your area at any given time. If you are hoping to get tested before traveling or gathering, please plan ahead to make sure you allow plenty of time to receive results.

If you’re getting tested in order to travel, please keep in mind that One Medical cannot guarantee that test results will be available in the time required and may not meet the specific needs for some destinations. Some airlines and destinations, for example Hawaii, will provide a list of approved lab partners and locations for COVID-19 testing prior to departure. Our PCR test results are processed by outside lab partners, and turnaround times can vary from 48 hours to up to seven days, depending on testing demand at any given time.

Testing positive for COVID-19 can feel scary and leave you wondering about the health and safety of yourself and your loved ones. While the media swirl around coronavirus may paint an alarming picture, in actuality, a care plan for someone diagnosed with COVID-19 often doesn’t look much different than it would for someone that is treating a cold or flu. If you test positive and are experiencing symptoms, your provider will advise you to self-isolate until at least 10 days have passed since your symptoms first appeared, you’ve had no fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication, and other respiratory symptoms have improved. If you’re not experiencing symptoms, you should self-isolate until at least 10 days have passed since you first tested positive, assuming symptoms do not develop during this time. To learn more about a positive COVID-19 diagnosis, see here.