First-person account of asymptomatic COVID-19 test at local pharmacy

By GILLIAN SLADE on August 8, 2020.

gslade@medicinehatnews.com@MHNGillianSlade

If you are wondering what it is like to have an asymptomatic COVID-19 test, here is a first-person account.

The telephone call to book the appointment includes routine questions about whether you have symptoms of COVID, have been in contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID in the last 14 days, or have travelled in the last 14 days.

You need to provide a valid Alberta Health card number. You be told that there is a chance that the test result could be a “false positive” and you would still be required to isolate for 14 days if that happened.

The test was simple and quick.

What looks like a long Q-tip is inserted through the mouth to the back of the throat and before you know it, it is all over.

It took a total of five days, but just two business days, to get the results.

Before being told that the results were negative, there were two questions about any current symptoms and travel since the test.

The two local pharmacies doing the testing are Sandstone Pharmacies, 116 Carry Drive, located in the Carry Drive Clinic building, and Shoppers Drug Mart, 2440 Division Ave. NW, across the road from Northlands Co-op.

Alberta Health covers the cost. The throat swab is sent to Alberta Precision Labs for analysis.

Phone for an appointment:

Sandstone Pharmacy: 403-528-2111

Shoppers Drug Mart: 403-528-0539

Asymptomatic testing is particularly encouraged, Alberta Health has said recently, before or after spending time with individuals who have a higher risk of serious health outcomes and before or after travelling internationally, attending an event with recent travellers or hosting them.

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