
COVID-19 Testing
COVID-19 Testing Information
As part of our commitment to help Georgia fight COVID-19, Wellstar Health System is offering COVID-19 diagnostic testing — including PCR and rapid antigen COVID-19 tests — as well as antibody testing across our hospitals, health parks, medical offices, pediatric locations and urgent care centers.
Rapid antigen COVID-19 testing is also now available at many Wellstar primary care and pediatric locations. For more information, call your specific healthcare provider’s office.
Before you or a loved one gets tested, it’s important to know:
- Diagnostic tests for COVID-19 — such as PCR and rapid antigen COVID-19 tests — detect the current presence of the virus.
- Antibody tests determine whether you have been previously infected by the COVID-19 virus. These tests should not be used to diagnose someone who may have a current case of COVID-19.
Use the information below to find the best place to get tested, depending on your medical circumstance.
Know Where to Go
When it comes to COVID-19 testing, it’s essential to know the best testing location for your medical circumstance. However, where you should go to get tested depends on your level of exposure and severity of COVID-19 symptoms:
- If you have no symptoms with known, possible or no known exposure, visit a primary care, urgent care or DPH location.
- If you have mild symptoms with known, possible or no known exposure, go to a primary care, urgent care or DPH location.
- If you have moderate symptoms with known, possible or no known exposure, visit an urgent care or primary care location.
- If you have severe symptoms, visit with known, possible or no known exposure, seek immediate help at an emergency department.
- If a test is required for school, work or travel, get tested at a primary care, urgent care or DPH location.
- If you are simply curious if you’ve had a past COVID-19 infection, visit a primary care location.
You can also “know where to go” by using the chart below.
Wellstar Outpatient COVID-19 Testing
Go to the right location for your medical circumstance.

For additional testing locations across Georgia, visit the DPH website for more information.
Refer to the sections below for specific information about the types of COVID-19 testing offered by Wellstar Health System.
COVID-19 Diagnostic Testing
Wellstar is offering two different types of COVID-19 testing: PCR and rapid antigen COVID-19 tests. Both of these tests diagnose the current presence of the virus.
All Wellstar physicians can refer patients for screening and COVID-19 testing, and anyone experiencing symptoms should contact a medical professional for eligibility.
PCR vs Rapid Testing
- In both tests, a nasopharyngeal swab is administered to collect a sample. This means a swab is inserted through the nose to collect nasal secretions from the back of the nose and throat.
- PCR tests detect viral genetic material in the sample. Test results are typically available within 24 hours. Same-day results are available at the urgent care centers located at Wellstar health parks if testing is completed by noon.
- In contrast, rapid antigen COVID-19 tests detect specific protein in the collected sample, which may indicate a COVID-19 infection. Results are available at the point-of-care, normally in 15 to 30 minutes.
Detection Method | Testing Method | Turnaround Time | Accuracy | |
---|---|---|---|---|
PCR | Genetic material from the virus | Processed in a laboratory | Typically within 24 hours, but same-day at select Wellstar urgent care centers if testing is completed by noon | Highly accurate |
Rapid | Specific proteins from the virus | Processed at point-of-care | Typically within 15 to 30 minutes | Mostly accurate |
If you feel you need a COVID-19 diagnostic test, contact any Wellstar primary care physician or seek care at any Wellstar urgent care center, health park, medical office, pediatric location or emergency department.
COVID-19 Antibody Testing
Antibody blood tests check your blood by looking for antibodies, which show if you had a previous COVID-19 infection. These tests should not be used to diagnose someone who may have a current case of COVID-19.
Depending on the timing of the infection, the test may not find antibodies in someone with a current or recent COVID-19 case. It can take 1 to 3 weeks after infection to make antibodies. It is unclear whether having antibodies to the virus can protect someone from getting infected with the COVID-19 again, or how long that protection might last.
What Happens During Antibody Testing?
- Antibody testing requires a blood draw. The patient has a small sample of blood collected in a syringe.
- Results are usually available in less than 24 hours.
- Tests are right for those who experienced symptoms 10 days ago or longer. This is because it takes 10 days for antibodies to develop a dominant antibody reaction in the blood.
- These test samples can be collected at any Wellstar Health Park, primary care or physician's office, or urgent care location. Contact an office to make an appointment.