IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR OUR PATIENTS | In order to provide clean, safe, efficient and appropriate emergency medical care to our community, we are ONLY offering emergency COVID-19 testing to individuals who have symptoms or a concerning exposure to COVID-19 that could lead to a potential medical emergency. As an Emergency Hospital, our top priority is the safety of our patients and our staff. Every patient who comes to our facility will receive an examination by a medical provider, but a patient may be declined testing if they are not having symptoms or a concerning exposure to COVID-19 that could lead to a potential medical emergency. Community resources are available for routine testing and “screening” and we will help you find the most appropriate location to meet your needs. We hope that you will continue to practice wearing a mask in public and social distancing as we face these uncertain times.
If you have been exposed to or shown symptoms of COVID-19, please call 832-777-6165 to schedule testing.
Types of COVID-19 Tests
| Test Type | Available? | Results | Overview |
|---|---|---|---|
Rapid Viral Antigen | Yes | ~15 Min. | Performed with a nasal swab. This test is designed to detect the virus that causes COVID-19. This test is 87.5% sensitive and 99% specific (If the test result is negative, there is a 12.5% chance that a true positive is overlooked by the test.) |
Molecular PCR Test | Yes | Same day results | Emergency use authorized, in-house PCR test with same-day turnaround results. We can usually get results within a few hours. Performed with a nasal swab. This test is designed to detect the virus that causes COVID-19 in addition to pathogens causing over 20 different viral and bacterial respiratory infections including other coronaviruses and influenza strains. This test is 97.1% sensitive (if it is negative, it is 97.1% accurate). |
Antibody Test | Yes | ~10 Min. | Whole blood (blood) test. This test is designed to detect antibodies present in the blood. A positive result indicates that you may have had COVID-19 in the recent past and have developed antibodies that may protect you from future infections. |
COVID-19 Update
July 29, 2020
We are aware of concerns about the use of emergency rooms for emergency COVID-19 testing. We are particularly aware of the lack of available options to patients in our community for immediate and emergency COVID testing, including very long lines, poorly controlled social distancing, and dangerous levels of heat in the Texas climate in many of the testing sites that are available. Additionally, many sites do not offer rapid testing with patients sometimes waiting 8 to 11 days for their results. Such long waits can undermine the necessity of testing and render the results almost useless, or even harmful when unidentified COVID-positive patients fail to isolate appropriately.
We want to continue to be a resource to our patients for convenient, safe, and efficient emergency COVID-19 testing. We have gone to considerable expense to acquire testing machines, supplies, personal protective equipment (PPE) and to bring on additional staff to meet the incredible demand for emergency COVID-19 testing.
At Kingwood Emergency Hospital, we will also continue to honor our commitment to be financially responsible in our billing and collection practices and in our relationship with the insurers who are contracted to protect our patients. During the COVID-19 pandemic and crisis and for as long as the pandemic and crisis exist, the major health insurers have committed to cover emergency COVID-19 testing with zero cost-sharing to patients. We have administratively decided that we will match that commitment – all future emergency COVID-19 testing during the pandemic and crisis will be billed at the lowest billing level that also includes a physician visit. We feel that a physician or provider visit with each and every patient is the safest way to preserve the health and safety of our community at this time. This visit and testing will be charged to insurers as a level 2 emergency room visit, plus the cost of the COVID-19 test, even though a higher level visit is justified in most cases.
We stand with our community during this difficult time. We are ready, able, and prepared to handle any and all COVID-19 and medical emergencies.
If you have any questions, please contact our front desk or our local facility administrator by calling 832-777-6165
COVID-19 Test FAQ
What is a COVID-19 Viral Test?
A viral test tells you if you have a current infection. There are different types of viral tests, including:
Antigen Detection Test
Viral antigens develop on the surface of cells infected with a specific virus. A viral antigen detection test is done on a sample of tissue that might be infected. Specially tagged (with dye or a tracer) antibodies that attach to those viral antigens are mixed with the sample. The tagged antibodies can be seen by using a special light (or other method). If the tagged antibodies are attached to the cells, the cells are infected with the virus.
Viral Molecular Detection Test
Using a sample of tissue or blood or other fluid, the test looks for the genetic material (DNA or RNA) of a specific virus. This test can show the exact virus causing an infection.
What is a COVID-19 Antibody Test?
An Antibody tests tells you if you had a previous infection. An antibody test may not be able to show if you have a current infection, because it can take 1-3 weeks after infection to make antibodies. We do not know yet if having antibodies to the virus can protect someone from getting infected with the virus again, or how long that protection might last.
What advice does the CDC offer regarding COVID-19 testing?
If you are a close contact of someone with COVID-19 or you are a resident in a community where there is ongoing spread of COVID-19 and develop symptoms of COVID-19, call your healthcare provider and tell them about your symptoms and your exposure. They will decide whether you need to be tested, but keep in mind that there is no treatment for COVID-19 and people who are mildly ill may be able to isolate and care for themselves at home.
If your doctor sees that you meet the requirements for testing be sure to wear a mask, cover your coughs and sneezes, and frequently clean your hands on your way to be tested. If you experience severe pain, shortness of breath, or chest pain, you need to seek emergency care. See more symptoms here. For more information visit: CDC COVID-19 TESTING ADVICE.
What does “FDA-Authorized” mean?
How Coronavirus Tests May Be Authorized
Americans rely on the FDA to provide an independent review of medical products, such as drugs, diagnostic tests, and other medical devices. During a public health emergency like the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an urgent need for products to diagnose, treat, or prevent a medical threat. There are three ways a coronavirus test might be used for this emergency:
- Emergency Use Authorization (EUA)
In certain types of emergencies, the FDA can issue an Emergency Use Authorization, or EUA, to provide more timely access to critical medical products that may help during the emergency when there are no adequate, approved, and available options. The EUA process is different than full approval or clearance because in some emergency situations we cannot wait for all of the evidence needed for full FDA approval or clearance. Instead, the FDA evaluates the options very quickly using the evidence that is available, carefully balancing the risks and benefits of the product as we know them, in addition to evaluating other criteria. - Lab Developed Test (LDT)
A laboratory-developed test (LDT) is an in vitro (or laboratory) diagnostic test that is manufactured by and used within a single laboratory. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regulates all laboratory testing (except research) performed on humans in the U.S. through the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA). The FDA is providing flexibility to certain labs certified under CLIA to run high-complexity tests during the COVID-19 emergency. The FDA is providing flexibility for labs that develop and perform their own coronavirus testing where the lab validates the test, notifies FDA, and submits the validation data to the FDA within a certain timeframe as part of a EUA request. While many labs purchased commercial tests under an existing EUA, other labs developed and validated their own tests under this temporary policy. - State Authorization
The FDA is providing flexibility to states who want to authorize labs certified to conduct high-complexity tests in that state to develop and perform coronavirus testing. Under this policy, the state or territory takes responsibility for the safety and accuracy of COVID-19 testing by laboratories in its state/territory and the lab does not submit a EUA request to the FDA.
This information has been provided by the FDA
Contact Us
For more testing information, please call 832-777-6165
Pursuant to section 6001 of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the “FFCRA”) as amended by Sections 3201 and 3202 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) specifically as the foregoing relate to the provision and reimbursement of orders for and or administration of SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19 (collectively, “COVID-19) in vitro diagnostic tests (including serological tests used to detect COVID-19 antibodies) as well as the provision and reimbursement of items and services furnished to individuals during visits that result in an order for, or administration of a COVID-19 in vitro diagnostic test(s) and or the provision and reimbursement of services related to the evaluation of such individuals by the attending healthcare provider for purposes of determining the need for the product or service in question, the following are the lists by provider of CPT codes and associated cash prices required by section 3202 (b) of the CARES Act related to the foregoing COVID-19 in vitro diagnostic testing services as well as said related items and services.
Covid-19 (SARS-Cov-2) Rapid Antigen by nasopharyngeal swab – Cash Price $350
We know that many members of our community are suffering financial hardships during this time. Discounts may be available depending on your circumstances. Please discuss this with a member of our registration team at the facility.
Click here to review our prices.
