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COVID-19 Testing (1-31-2023)

KPHC is no longer providing walk-in on-site Covid-19 testing. If you need testing we recommend utilizing your home test kits. If you need PCR testing check www.hawaiicovid19.com for available test sites. If you do not have home test kits, call our Covid nurse line at 808-381-7009 for test kits or check online at COVID.gov/tests – Free at-home COVID-19 tests to see if free test kits are available or for other test sites.

KPHC is not doing pre-travel testing. Pre-travel testing can be done through Clinical Labs of Hawaii (CLH) at Sonic Scheduling (sonichealth.us)

There are two available testing options:

  • NAAT/PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction)
  • Rapid antigen/home test kit

PCR is at type of NAAT test and more sensitive and less likely to have false negatives or false positives compared to rapid antigen testing. PCR testing cannot be done at home and results are usually available the next day. PCR testing is usually covered by insurance if you are being tested for symptoms or due to a close contact to someone with Covid-19 such as a family member, friend or co-worker.  PCR is so sensitive that if you had a covid-19 infection, your PCR test may be positive for up to 3 months after, so if you had a confirmed Covid-19 infection within the last 3 months and are having new symptoms or had a close contact, PCR testing may not be recommended, rapid antigen testing may be more useful to determine if you are currently infected or contagious.

Rapid antigen testing/home test kits are not quite as accurate as PCR. Rapid antigen testing has a slightly higher rate or false positives and false negatives, but is still very useful. Most home test kits are rapid antigen tests. Results are usually available within 15 minutes. They can be a little tricky to use and not all test kits are the same, so be sure to review your kits instructions before testing.

When should I test for Covid-19?

PCR testing is still the most accurate form of Covid testing, however as fewer places are offering PCR testing, rapid at-home testing can be used effectively to manage most testing situations

We recommend using you home test kits for the 4 situations of surveillance, protection, diagnosis and clearance as explained below.

  • Testing for Surveillance:
    • If you work with the general public or in healthcare or retail, you are likely encountering Covid positive people regularly. Consider weekly or more often rapid at-home testing, especially if you live with someone at high risk. If you were at a social event or recently traveled, do a home test 6 days after or as soon as you start feeling any symptoms. If you are at high risk for severe illness from covid19 or live or work with high risk persons, best practice would be to do a rapid at-home test on days 1, 3 and 5 after your event or travel or as soon as you start feeling any symptoms.
  • Testing for Protection:
    • Do a rapid at-home test before going to visit someone at high risk or if you know you will be around unvaccinated people. Even if you are not having symptoms and feel ok. Test all of your family members together to ensure everyone is cleared to visit. If you are at high risk, ask others coming to visit to do a test before you get together.
  • Testing for Diagnosisdue to symptoms or a close covid contact.
    • If you had a covid infection within the last 30 days, then it is very unlikely that you will be reinfected this soon. Do an a rapid at-home test and contact your healthcare provider for advice
    • If you had a covid infection within the last 3 months, a PCR test may be positive for up to 6 months after an infection. From 30-90 days after an infection it is recommended to use rapid testing instead of PCR testing.
    • If you are at high risk for severe complications from Covid or other respiratory infections, contact you healthcare provider for advice if you are having symptoms or have been exposed to Covid-19.
    • If you are having symptoms: If you are starting to feel sick at all, a scratchy throat, runny nose, sneezing, congested, having loss of taste or smell or muscle aches, feeling more tired than usual, having headaches or dizziness or having diarrhea or vomiting, isolate from the rest of your household and do a covid test
      • PCR testing is more sensitive and accurate than rapid home testing but is less available than previously. If you have easy access to PCR testing and it has been more than 3 months since your last covid infection then PCR is recommended. If you do not have access to PCR testing then rapid home testing is still a good option.
      • Do a home covid test. If you do not have access to a home test kit, contact your healthcare provider or go to www.hawaiicovid19.com to check for testing access. If you don’t have a healthcare provider, call us at 808-381-7009 for advice.
        • If your home test is negative, wear a mask around others and sleep separate from your family, uses separate bathroom if possible and wash hands well. Do another home test after 48 hours. If both tests are negative then you probably do not have covid and can leave isolation as long as you are feeling better and not having fevers.
        • If your second home test is negative but you are still not feeling good, stay home and contact your healthcare provider.
        • If your home test is positive, isolate away from others in your home and call your healthcare provider or call us to schedule a telehealth visit with a medical provider to discuss possible treatment options and clearance.
    • If you had a close covid contact or exposure, such as  family member testing positive or you find out someone in your social circle or at work tested positive, do home testing on day 6 after your exposure or at any time you start to feel sick. If you are at high risk or live or work with high risk individuals then best practice would be to test on days 1, 3 and 5 after your exposure and at any time if you start feeling sick.
  • Testing for Clearance:
    • If you are covid positive, you must isolate for at least 5 days. Current recommendations are that if you are feeling better, you can leave isolation on day 6 after you started feeling sick or tested positive, whichever came first.
    • A safer practice would be to do a home test on day 6, even if you are feeling better, and if still positive, stay in isolation and test every 1-2 days. You can leave isolation when your rapid test is negative or after 10 days, whichever comes first.
    • Check with your employer or school policies on when you can return to work, school or other activities. If you are immunocompromised or had severe illness then stay in isolation until cleared by your healthcare provider.

Before coming to the KPHC, If you are feeling sick or if you have been exposed to someone who is sick or suspected of having Covid-19, please call ahead at 808-381-7009. If you are unable to call, please notify our door screeners when you arrive at the clinic of your symptoms or exposure concerns. 

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