New COVID-19 Testing Site On UWS Promises Results Within Minutes

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — Unpleasant tales about New Yorkers having to wait weeks to receive their COVID-19 test results have been consistent throughout the pandemic, but a new testing site on the Upper West Side is looking to speed up the process.

The Rapid Test Center on 252 Columbus Avenue, between 71st and 72nd Streets, promises results in minutes.

Medical professionals at the site will use machines designed by Abbot Labs to test for the virus by looking at its RNA, which is a must faster method than the standard PCR testing. The Rapid Test Center will use either a front-of-nose or throat swab for the test, and has rates of 98.6 percent specificity and 94.7 percent sensitivity, according to its website.

In other words, the test has a false-negative rate of 1.4 percent and a false-positive rate of 5.3 percent.

These rates are very close to the PCR rates, according to the Rapid Testing Center.

The new testing center on the Upper West Side is also offering "Concierge Testing," where it will send a trained professional to you for testing. Walk-ins are also welcome at the center, but it doesn't mention anywhere on its website how much a test costs at the center.

Patch sent an email to the Rapid Testing Center about the prices and will update this article with any new information.

There is a strict mask policy for anyone that comes into the testing center.

The Rapid Testing Center's website says it will open on Tuesday, but the location already appeared open Monday.