Onsite COVID-19 Testing

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Diagnostics

COVID-19 Testing

Onsite labwork is available at the discretion of your Symbol medical provider.

Onsite

Onsite collection of oral and/or nasal samples, sent to outside lab

Testing

Test results usually available in 48 hours & Symbol will notify patients

Onsite COVID-19 Testing at Symbol Clinics

Who Can Be Tested?

Established Symbol Health Solutions patients can call their Symbol Clinic to determine if they need to be tested.

Can I Request the COVID-19 Test?

Yes. Symbol is here to make certain that our patients receive the very best diagnostics and treatment possible. Your medical professionals will work with you to ensure your safety.

You may be tested for other diseases such as influenza, strep throat, or mononucleosis for the most thorough diagnosis of possible ailments. 

What Kind of Test Does Symbol Have?

The COVID-19 tests available at Symbol Clinics are collected onsite in your exam room in one or two ways:

1. Oropharyngeal - throat swab way back near tonsils

2. Nasopharyngeal - nostril swab far back near ear opening

Collected specimens are frozen onsite, then later that day shipped to an off-site laboratory for analysis.

When Will I Get The Test Results?

The COVID-19 tests available at Symbol Clinics typically have a 48-hour (2 business day) turnaround, but due to laboratory backlogs outside of our control, results could take up to 3 days.

Turnaround time is defined as the usual number of days from the date of pickup of a specimen for testing to when the result is released to the ordering provider. In some cases, additional time should be allowed for additional confirmatory or additional reflex tests. Testing schedules may vary.

Symbol will contact tested patients directly with results.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can I Go Back to Work if I'm Tested for COVID-19?

    Symbol medical professionals will treat COVID-19 suspects according to Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) guidelines. Patients will be sent home with a work absence excuse and instructions to distance yourself from others for the next few days. It will be the patient's responsibility to contact workplace supervisors, any family members or associates to inform them that you will be self-isolating for the next few days. 

    Dismissed patients will be instructed to go home, stay home, and remain at least 6 feet away from other people. They will be reminded to wash hands thoroughly and frequently, clean surfaces touched, cover coughs, and dispose of single-use tissues after use. This form of voluntary self-isolation is currently the CDC's preferred method of containing COVID-19 suspects until further facts of infection are established. These standards may change as the science evolves.

  • What Happens if My COVID-19 Test Results are Positive?

    Even if you have no symptoms, if you test positive for COVID-19, you will be placed into isolation, according to CDC guidelines: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/isolation.html 

    Your Symbol medical provider will help with treatment and next steps. 

  • What is Symbol Health Solutions Doing to Protect Against COVID-19?

    Symbol Health is collaborating closely with local health departments and following guidelines established by WHO, CDC, and ADPH. Prominently displayed flyers and handouts are posted throughout Symbol Clinics to inform and instruct patients about infection control and best practices in identifying and preventing spread of COVID-19. 

    All patients entering the Symbol Clinic will be asked to wear a face mask to protect others in the clinic, and then quickly relocated to a triage room for further examination. (This is why it's best to call ahead if you have symptoms).

    If one of our tested patients prove positive for COVID-19, that patient will be notified and informed of next steps for treatment. Known patients and healthcare professionals in contact with the COVID-19-positive patient will be notified of possible exposure and invited back to the Symbol Clinic for immediate testing. 

  • How Can I Get My Medications if I'm Supposed to Keep My Distance?

    Staying at least 6 feet away from other people is the best way to avoid exposure to the coronavirus. Symbol Health has negotiated several ways to ensure that our patients receive the critical medications they need to treat both acute (urgent) care and for maintenance (chronic condition) therapy. When you are telephonically examined by your Symbol medical provider, you may be asked to ensure that your medications are free of cost in a variety of ways, including:

    1. Scheduling time to quickly and easily pick up your medications within the Symbol Clinic

    2. Presenting a special Prescription Drug Card at your local pharmacy

    3. Waiting for medications to be mailed directly to your home