COVID-19 Testing

When should I consider COVID-19 testing for my child?

If your child is showing possible symptoms of COVID-19, you should contact Cali Kids Urgent Care to get them tested. Symptoms could include:

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Muscle pain
• Cough
• Nasal congestion
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Shortness of breath
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Nausea or vomiting
• Poor appetite

Children may have some or many of these symptoms; the most common are a cough and fever. However, many children infected with COVID-19 show no symptoms at all.

You might want your child to undergo COVID-19 testing even if they have no symptoms if another member of your household or someone they've been in contact with tests positive.

Why is COVID-19 testing important?

COVID-19 testing is an essential part of the effort to control the spread of this virus through your community. Isolating anyone who has COVID-19 helps keep them from passing the infection on to other people, who could be more vulnerable.

So far, children have had a significantly lower risk of severe complications from COVID-19 compared with adults, but they're not all immune from the disease's effects. If your child has COVID-19, they might not feel especially unwell, but they're just as likely to spread the disease through contact with other people as an adult with severe symptoms.

What types of COVID-19 tests are available?

There are several types of COVID-19 tests:

Viral tests

A viral test identifies a current infection. One type of viral test is the nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT), which detects genetic material unique to SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19). The most well-known of these kinds of tests is the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.

Another type of viral test is the antigen test, which detects the presence of a specific virus.

Antibody tests

An antibody or serology test looks for antibodies that indicate you had the infection in the past. These tests aren't suitable for diagnosing a current infection.

The Cali Kids Urgent Care team uses the Cepheid® Xpert® Xpress PCR test. This test not only detects SARS-CoV-2, but also flu and human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

To do the Xpert test, your provider inserts a swab into your child's nose or throat to collect a sample. The test results can come back in less than 25 minutes.

To arrange COVID testing for your child call Cali Kids Urgent Care, book an appointment online, or walk-in. No referral is ever needed.