Testing

Who should get tested and when:

A close contact is defined now as someone who has been within 6 feet of a person with known or suspected COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more during a 24-hour period.

If you are having active symptoms of COVID-19 as listed above, especially with a known exposure, you should proceed with testing. This is especially important for those participating in school/daycare, sports, or work.
If you have had close contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 but you are not having any COVID-19 symptoms, you should quarantine and wait until at least 5 days after exposure before getting tested. This is to limit the chances of having a false negative result. Even if you test negative, you should still quarantine as directed. If you later develop symptoms, you should be retested for COVID-19.
No testing is generally recommended if you have had an indirect exposure. This is best explained by the diagram below:

*If your child is having a COVID-19 like illness with no known exposure and will require a note to return to daycare or school activities, please proceed with testing. We will not be able to write a note clearing them to return without documentation of a negative COVID-19 test.

Types of COVID-19 tests:

PCR test: This is the gold standard of testing and will tell you if you have an acute COVID-19 infection. It is performed with a nasopharyngeal or nasal swab
Rapid antigen test: This is usually performed with a nasal or oral swab and will tell you if you have an acute COVID-19 infection. It is not as sensitive as the PCR test and should only be performed within the first 5 days of symptoms. It should not be used to screen a person without symptoms. If the antigen test is negative, a follow up PCR test should be performed.
Serology (antibody) test: This test is used to see if you have previously been infected with SARS-CoV-2 and is performed through a blood draw. It does not diagnose an acute infection. A positive test confirms that you have been exposed, but it cannot confirm if you are immune or for how long. Even if you have a positive serology test, you should continue to take routine precautions.

Where children can get tested for COVID-19:

Frederick Health Hospital (Frederick Memorial Hospital)
Drive through testing site for all ages.
No symptoms are needed to be tested.
PCR test – nasopharyngeal swab
Times: Daily from 7 a.m — 11 a.m
Location: Frederick Health Village (behind the Walmart on Monocacy Blvd)
1 Frederick Health Way
Frederick, MD21701
Results: are usually available within 24-48 hours but can take longer if testing volumes are very high.

PM Pediatrics Urgent Care
In person and telemedicine visits. For in-person visits, they can do a full exam (i.e. listen to lungs, check ears, etc.). Please visit their website to schedule an appointment.
PCR test – nasal or nasopharyngeal swabs
Times: Monday-Saturday: 12pm-12am
Sunday: 10am-10pm
Location: 19820 Century Blvd.
The Shops at Town Center (entrance is in the alley way)
Germantown, MD 20874
301-528-5437
Results: Please visit their website for up to date information on test result turn around times.
www.pmpediatrics.com

Here is a link to all COVID-19 testing sites in Frederick County:
https://health.frederickcountymd.gov/614/Novel-Coronavirus-COVID-19

What to do after you or your child have been tested for COVID-19:

If you are symptomatic and test positive for COVID-19, then you should isolate until you are fever free without fever reducers for at least 24 hours, it has been 10 days since your symptoms started, and you are feeling better (but can still have symptoms).
If you are symptomatic but have a negative test result, you should isolate until symptoms are resolved.
If you are asymptomatic but test positive, you should isolate for at least 10 days from your positive test result.
If you have had close contact with someone who has COVID-19 and are asymptomatic, you should quarantine for 14 days. You CANNOT test out of quarantine, but you may be able to shorten the duration of time that you need to quarantine. The following article explains why you cannot test out of quarantine:

https://keepkidshealthy.com/2020/10/27/why-cant-you-test-out-of-your-covid-19-quarantine/

To learn about COVID-19 Symptoms, click here.

To learn about COVID-19 Quarantining, click here.