LI Urgent Cares Are First To Get Rapid Coronavirus Test

EAST MEADOW, NY — Three Long Island urgent care facilities are among the first in the nation to offer a rapid test for the new coronavirus, which can return results in just minutes.

The American Family Care urgent care facilities in East Meadow, Farmingdale and West Islip just began offering the tests, according to ABC News. However, the tests are limited: the company only has about 300 per day to send to all three locations.

Doctors at the facilities are also only testing patients who are already showing signs of the coronavirus, according to NBC.

These new tests were developed by Abbott and approved by the FDA just last week. The test can deliver positive results in as little as five minutes, and negative results in as little as 13.

"We are in the midst of a major health crisis, a pandemic, and testing provides an important tool for stopping the spread of the novel coronavirus," said Dr. Robert S. Levy, of AFC, in a statement to NBC. "With Abbott’s new molecular test, we have the capability of examining 2,000 patients each week at our three locations. Having results quickly provides important peace of mind for those who test negative and for those who test positive then know to immediately self-quarantine or seek further medical care.”