RAPID ANTIBODY TEST FOR COVID-19
5-MINUTE COVID-19 TESTING
On Tuesday April 14 we anticipate beginning rapid antibody testing for COVID-19 by simple finger stick. Here is what you need to know:
Testing is by appointment only, booked on the website.
We recommend testing for all our patients. Many people with the virus do not have symptoms, and we need to identify those asymptomatic carriers.
Fee for active monthly members is $50 per test
Test takes 5-10 minutes to get results vs 5 days for the nasal swab from LabCorp and Quest.
This is a SCREENING test, NOT a DIAGNOSTIC test, detecting your antibodies, not active presence of viral particles.
Positive results presume that you have had the virus, but it is RECOMMENDED the results be confirmed by the nasal or throat swab PCR test if you have ongoing symptoms. There are false positives expected when you want to catch all possible coronavirus cases, and rule out illness (very sensitive, not as specific statistically).
This test kit was allowed by the FDA due to the emergency, but has not been evaluated by the FDA. It was previously used for research only.
Testing will be open to non-members as a service to the community, as we are able. Family members of existing patients are given priority.
Fee for non-members is $110 per person
This includes a discounted doctor visit for $60 (regularly $150), plus $50 for the rapid COVID-19 antibody test.
No insurance reimbursement paperwork will be provided or completed afterwards
Guests must Register and pay before scheduling on the website. If you schedule without Registering, your appointment will be automatically cancelled.
To help advance the understanding of the prevalence of COVID-19, our doctors may submit a paper for publication, summarizing the results of the testing that we have performed. Data will be reported in aggregate format only and no patient identifying information will be reported. By requesting to be tested for COVID 19, you are giving consent for your data to be included in the study. Patients may opt out of study participation, by sending an email to: info@MMMEd.care or Duane@MMMed.care stating that they do not wish to be included in the study.
COVID-19 UPDATE 03-31-2020
Greetings patients,
I hope you are all doing well in this unique time. I have some important information.
While staying home for so long can be challenging, it is very important to help minimize the outbreak in our communities. It is truly our moral duty to stay home for the sake of those at most risk, as I conveyed in a recent television interview. But there are also many cases of the young and healthy succumbing to coronavirus. So it is in everyone’s interest to socially distance and practice strict germ hygiene when you must go out in public. People can have very mild symptoms or no symptoms at all and still be spreading the virus.
The number of cases in our area is growing, but not exponentially yet, as local governments did take action fairly quickly to close public gathering places. It is important that we continue aggressive measures to contain it now to save lives and avoid overwhelming our hospitals with patients in need of ventilator support.
Up until now, our practice has been unable to obtain the medical supplies necessary to conduct in-person evaluations of potential COVID-19 cases. However, there is progress being made. I have a handful of the nasopharyngeal testing kits, and was able to piece together a few personal protective outfits from donated equipment and home renovation supplies. Our practice is expecting supplies to arrive soon to enable the other doctors to also safely perform evaluations and testing.
Given the shortage of nasal testing kits, the high risk posed to healthcare workers during the nasal collection process, and the fact that it takes 4 to 7 days to get results, it is not an ideal tool. I have ordered a batch of newly available rapid coronavirus screening kits, which use blood instead of a respiratory swab. These were previously only authorized for research use. The emergency regulations that were passed now make this 5 minute blood test available directly to doctors. The manufacturer has estimated that they will ship them from California on April 6th, so we anticipate being able to offer rapid fingerstick testing soon after.
We will delineate the testing procedure in detail before testing appointments, but the preferred method would be drive-up testing to minimize exposure of our doctors. The patient would remain in the car and simply put one hand out the window for a brief fingerstick. If you are homebound, your doctor will be able to test at your front door while remaining outside.
I am aware that many of your friends and family may have lost jobs, lost insurance, may not have a PCP, or even if they do, they may not have access to them by telemedicine the way you have access to our practice. If they need a one-time telemedicine consultation, you can share with them this specific registration link:
https://pureprimarycare.hint.com/checkout/virtualvisit
We are happy to help them with urgent needs like COVID-19 symptom screening, short term medication renewals (non-narcotic), or triaging other acute needs. Patients can be located anywhere our doctors hold medical licenses: Virginia, DC, Maryland, Texas, or Arizona. Due to emergency waivers, we are temporarily also able to provide telemedicine to patients in the following states: California, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Washington.
After registering for the one-time visit, they can schedule the consult via the website HERE
That’s all for now. I will keep you updated as things change. Be safe, be kind, and be generous in this challenging time.
Dr. Haden
COVID-19 Update
Dear Patients,
In order to prevent inadvertent spread of the coronavirus, we are going to defer all in-person appointments for non-urgent issues like checkups, routine follow up, etc. You should stay at home as much as possible also.
Urgent issues will be dealt with via telemedicine as much as possible (text, phone, video chat, portal messages). In person visits will be used only when necessary.
If you believe you may have contracted COVID-19 we have a new screening questionnaire specifically for that on the Spruce app. Do not panic. Most cases are very mild and do not require any testing or medical attention.
Diagnostic testing is still limited in our area to high risk patients, until kits become available for the general population.
We know you are being inundated via the media and email about the coronavirus outbreak. It can be challenging to sort out the facts from the hype and exaggeration, but there are everyday precautions you should take for the health of yourselves, your loved ones, and for the sake of the frail and/or elderly in your community, who would be hardest hit.
This is a good time to review routine germ precautions, to protect yourself from all infections, not just the COVID-19 virus. Also note that most acute infections are viral also, and therefore cannot be treated with antibiotics.
Do not touch your eyes, nose, mouth, or face in general. COVID-19 and most other respiratory infections are usually caught by touching a contaminated finger to your own nose or mouth. You put the virus right where it needs to be to make you sick.
Wash your hands often, but especially before eating. Or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
Cover your cough/sneeze fully with your sleeve or a cupped hand, directing your breath to the ground and away from people. Clean your hands after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose.
Do not share food or drinks.
If you are sick, stay home. Do not go to work, school, social gatherings or houses of worship until you feel better.
We at MMMed and PURE Primary Care wanted to let you know we are monitoring the COVID-19 outbreak closely, and adapting our recommendations to you with guidance from our local health departments and the CDC, as the situation evolves.
In the face of confusing online information, here are some reliable resources to review for prevention and what to do if you believe you have COVID-19.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/prevention.html
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/steps-when-sick.html
As always, we are here to care for you, so let us know if you have any questions.