Webster’s AcuteKids Urgent Care offers rapid PCR testing

It’s the first Rochester private practice to offer it

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Webster, NY - The Town of Webster has been spreading the word that AcuteKids Pediatric Urgent Care in Webster is now offering rapid PCR testing. The private practice is the first in the Rochester region to provide a rapid nasal swab test to detect COVID-19, Flu A, Flu B, and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus).

According to an official press release, test results are typically known the same day, with up to a 35-minute turnaround.

The test, which is created by Cepheid, was made available as of Nov. 11. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) granted Cepheid Emergency Use Authorization for the test back in September of this year.

"Detection and differentiation of Flu A, Flu B, RSV, and COVID-19 all present with similar symptoms, yet require fundamentally different treatment, so this is a game-changer for the ability to inform patients with rapid results and to help keep their families and our community healthy and safe,” Founder and CEO of AcuteKids Pediatric Urgent Care Chrysa Charno states in the press release.

Due to high demand, supplies for this rapid testing are limited. Children are given top priority. Adults are tested on a case-by-case basis. Outsourced lab testing is also available for adults.

"This particular type of diagnostic PCR (polymerise chain reaction) testing is the most accurate testing available, better than antigen or saliva testing,” states Charno. “At this point, any negative antigen test is supposed to be followed up by a PCR to confirm the result anyway."

With NYS Governor Andrew Cuomo recently designating Monroe County as a “yellow zone” for COVID-19 cases, the timing of this rapid testing is particularly relevant. The county received the yellow-zone designation after its 7-day average positivity rate increased from 0.77 percent to 3.63 percent over the course of the last four weeks.

Upon learning about the yellow-zone designation, the Webster area has been taking extra steps to provide rapid testing. For example, the Webster Central School District is now administering rapid COVID-19 testing to in-person students and staff members beginning next week.

AcuteKids Pediatric Urgent Care is located at 1243 Bay Road in Webster. Anyone interested in receiving rapid testing should call AcuteKids at (585) 787-4073. Patients will receive a link in advance to fill out their information, and the test will be administered in the parking lot. Patients are asked to remain in their vehicles as they receive the test.

Questions can also be emailed to info@acutekidsurgentcare.org.

AcuteKids is open Monday-Friday from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

More information about the Xpert® Xpress SARS-CoV-2/Flu/RSV four-in-one test is available on the Cepheid website.