Waimānalo Health Center offers COVID-19 testing for anyone who meets the testing criteria.

All COVID-19 tests require an appointment. Please call us at (808) 259-7948 to ask about getting tested. If you suspect you may have COVID-19, please self-isolate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Waimānalo Health Center doing COVID-19 testing?

Yes.

Can anyone get tested?

Yes, testing is available to anyone who meets the testing criteria.

What are the criteria?

WHC COVID-19 testing criteria are developed in line with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Hawaii State Department of Health guidelines. Testing criteria may change as the situation evolves, so please check back periodically for up-to-date testing eligibility.

Testing criteria as of 8/16/2021

You are eligible for testing if you have any of these symptoms:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore Throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Rigors (repeated shaking with chills)

Asymptomatic persons with known or suspected exposure to COVID-19 may also be considered for testing.

Is routine testing available for those with employer vaccine or testing mandates?

No. At this time, we are not conducting routine testing for those attempting to fulfill employer requirements.

Is testing for travel available?

Yes. Waimānalo Health Center provides the test, which is then sent to a trusted travel partner to process. Patients will then get their results directly from the laboratory.
For more information, please visit the below websites.
Hawai‘i Pre-Travel Testing Program: https://hawaiicovid19.com/travel-partners/
Clinical Labs of Hawai‘i (CLH): https://www.clinicallabs.com/travel/
Diagnostic Laboratory Services, Inc. (DLS): https://dlslab.com/covid-collection/

I’ve heard about several types of tests, what kind of testing is Waimānalo Health Center doing?

WHC is conducting Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) nasopharyngeal swab tests to diagnose a current infection.  These tests are used to detect the presence of nucleic acid from SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.  A positive test result indicates the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA; clinical correlation with patient history and other diagnostic information is necessary to determine patient infection status. 

We also offer antibody blood tests, which can potentially show past infection, but should not be used for diagnosis of current infection. Patients may request an appointment with their provider to discuss if an antibody test is right for them.

Is COVID-19 testing free?

No, the Waimānalo Health Center does not provide free COVID-19 testing. The cost, if any, depends on the type of COVID-19 test and insurance coverage.

What tests are available and what do they tell us?

Currently, there are two main types of tests:

• Molecular Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction(RT-PCR) nasopharyngeal swab tests that tell us if you have a current infection, and

• Antibody blood tests that tell us if you have had a previous infection

An antibody test may not show if you have a current infection as it can take 1-3 weeks after infection to make antibodies. There is not enough data yet to know if having antibodies can protect you from getting infected with the virus again, or how long that protection might last.

It is important to know that COVID-19 testing methods are continually developing. Not all tests are proven to be accurate.

At Waimānalo Health Center, we support reliable testing.
We are using the RT-PCR nasopharyngeal swab test that is recommended by the CDC and meets the best standard of care.

What happens once I’m tested?

Patients who are tested for COVID-19 at WHC will receive further information on the process and anticipated test result time. For the safety of all, patients are asked to self-isolate pending the results of the test. If test results are positive, our medical team will advise the patient on next steps.

I want to get tested. What should I do next?

Please call us at (808) 259-7948 to ask about getting tested. If you suspect you may have COVID-19, please self-isolate.

Resources

For more information on COVID-19 testing, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/testing/

For tips on how to use a self-test, click here.

For information on when to quarantine if exposed, click here.