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.