COVID-19 Testing

To best serve everyone's needs, we recommend and appreciate patients following this guide for care and testing:

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What to Do While Waiting for Your Test Result

Until you are able to get your COVID-19 test and results, you should stay home and monitor your health to help protect your friends, family, and others from possibly getting COVID-19 from you. Follow the "WHAT TO DO IF YOUR RESULT IS POSITIVE" instructions below while waiting for your result.

If tested at McFarland Clinic, a clinic representative will contact you with the results of your test as soon as they are available. Results will also be available in MyChart.

What to Do if Your Result is POSITIVE

If you test POSITIVE for COVID-19 stay home and isolate from other people for at least 5 full days (day 0 is the first day of symptoms or the date of the day of the positive viral test if you don’t have symptoms). Wear a mask when around others at home and in public for an additional 5 days. People who are confirmed to have COVID-19 or are showing symptoms of COVID-19 need to isolate regardless of their vaccination status. (CDC Guidelines for COVID Positive Isolation and Quarantine)

• As much as possible you should stay in a specific room and away from other people in your home.
• Use a separate bathroom if available. If you need to be around other people inside or outside of the home, wear a face mask.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough and sneeze.
• Say no to visitors.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
• Do not share personal household items such as dishes, towels or bedding with other people in your home.
• Avoid handling pets or other animals while sick.
• Clean all high-touch surfaces such as counters, tabletops and doorknobs.
• Stay home from school, all extracurricular activities, community events, social gatherings.
• Visit with your Primary Care Provider regarding your eligibility for current COVID-19 treatments.

You can end isolation after 5 full days if you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved (loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery and need not delay the end of isolation).

• You should continue to wear a well-fitting mask around others at home and in public for 5 additional days (day 6 through day 10) after the end of your 5-day isolation period. Children under age 2, people unable to wear a mask properly, people who choose not to wear a mask,  people with moderate or severe illness and people who are immunocompromised , should continue to isolate for a full 10 days. This includes school-age children:  If they are unable to wear a mask throughout the school day, they should remain in isolation for the full 10 days.
• Avoid people who are immunocompromised or at high risk for severe disease, and nursing homes and other high-risk settings, until after at least 10 days.
• If you continue to have a fever or your other symptoms have not improved after 5 days of isolation, you should wait to end your isolation until you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved. Continue to wear a well-fitting mask. Contact your healthcare provider if you have questions.
• Do not travel during your 5-day isolation period. After you end isolation, avoid travel until a full 10 days after your first day of symptoms. If you must travel on days 6-10, wear a well-fitting mask when you are around others for the entire duration of travel. If you are unable to wear a mask, you should not travel during the 10 days.
• Do not go to places where you are unable to wear a mask, such as restaurants and some gyms, and avoid eating around others at home and at work until a full 10 days after your first day of symptoms.
• Adolescents who have moderate to severe symptoms and/or have symptoms lasting over 10 days should be evaluated prior to returning to sports activities.

Monitor Your Symptoms

If you develop new or worsening symptoms, call your Primary Care Provider, who will review your symptoms and provide advice on next steps.

Call 911 or your local emergency room during after hours or on weekends, or with life threatening symptoms like:

• Trouble breathing
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion
• Inability to wake or stay awake
• Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone

Managing Your Symptoms

Pain Relievers

Use an over-the-counter pain reliever to combat any symptoms you have. Look for pain relievers such as acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol), ibuprofen (e.g., Advil, Motrin IB) or aspirin.

Cough Syrup/Medications

Over-the-counter cough syrup or medications can ease your symptoms. Talk with your provider about what they recommend for you. If your child is younger than 6 years old, discuss using cough syrup or medicine with a provider, unless already specifically instructed on use.

Fluid Intake

Drink plenty of fluids. Choose water, juice, drinks with electrolytes (e.g., Gatorade, Powerade, Pedialyte) or warm tea with honey to prevent dehydration.

Rest

Get plenty of rest and give your body time to heal.

Think About People Who You Have Recently Been Around  

You were likely contagious 2 days before your symptoms started. Anyone you were around during that time should be notified to monitor for symptoms. Your close contacts should follow these guidelines:

AFTER BEING EXPOSED TO COVID-19 (Regardless of COVID-19 Vaccination Status)

• Wear a mask as soon as notified of the exposure, through day 10
  • Day 0 is the day of their last known exposure to someone with COVID-19
  • Day 1 is the first full day after their last known exposure
• Monitor for symptoms of COVID-19
  • If symptoms develop, isolate immediately and get tested for COVID-19.
  • If no symptoms, get tested at least 5 full days after their last known exposure 
    • If positive, isolate immediately
    • If negative, continue masking through day 10

They should wear a high quality mask when around others and should avoid going places where they are unable to wear a mask.

If they are unable to wear a mask when around others, they should continue to isolate for 10 days. Avoid people who are immunocompromised or at high risk for severe disease, and nursing homes and other high-risk settings, until after at least 10 days.

What to Do if Your Result is NEGATIVE

If you have a negative home (antigen) test and still have symptoms of COVID-19, a PCR test is recommended. If you have a positive home (antigen) test, you are infected with COVID-19 and should isolate as instructed per the CDC recommendations. Contact your Primary Care Provider if your symptoms worsen or do not improve.

COVID-19 testing will be processed either within McFarland Clinic or sent to a private reference lab. There may be a cost associated with the test. Patients are encouraged to check with their insurance carrier for coverage and to provide the following codes:

• U0003 - COVID PCR lab test - $206.00
• 86769 - COVID Antibody test - $92.00
• 87426-QW - COVID Antigen test - $89.00

Uninsured Patients

McFarland Clinic offers a discount on COVID testing and treatment services for uninsured patients. Alternative resources for uninsured individuals who need COVID-19 services or other health care coverage include:

• Medicaid enrollment
• Healthcare marketplace enrollment
• COVIDtests.gov
• HRSA.gov – Find a Health Center

We recommend following CDC guidelines for isolation and return-to-work.

The Iowa Department of Public Health has established a public hotline for Iowans with general questions about COVID-19. The line is available 24/7 by calling 211.

Please refer to these resources for the most up-to-date information regarding COVID-19 in Iowa and in the United States.

• Iowa Department of Public Health - Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• CDC.gov - Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)