Drive-up COVID-19 swab collection is available at the following Open-Air sites: 1202 Medical Center Drive, Porters Neck, Hampstead, Northchase (Pediatrics), Monkey Junction, Federal Point, Shipyard, Leland, and Jacksonville locations. Please note, COVID Testing is conducted outdoors via our drive-up parking stalls. Patients must schedule a telehealth visit with one of our providers, and then a testing time will be scheduled (if indicated). If you have been in contact with someone with COVID-19 and/or have a fever, cough, shortness of breath (or difficulty breathing), chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, and/or new loss of taste or smell, please call our WH AnyWhere Hotline at 910-341-3400 today. We will then determine the next best steps for your care.
Wilmington Health is committed to using collaborative, evidence-based medicine in providing the highest quality of care to you and our community.
Please note, all of our COVID Testing locations operate between 1:00-4:00pm. Please try to report prior to 4:00 pm, so your test can be completed that day. COVID-19 test results will only be reported through your Patient Portal. If you need to register for the Patient Portal, please click here. Thank you!
Map of 1202 Medical Center Drive Testing Site
Frequently Asked Questions
There are two types of tests that are most used in regards to COVID-19: diagnostic tests and antibody tests. Diagnostic tests, such as a molecular or antigen test, can determine if you have an active infection. A common molecular test you may have heard about is the RT-PCR test, which identifies the genetic sequences of COVID-19. Antigen tests work to detect proteins left specifically by the virus.
Antibody tests are used to determine if you have previously been infected with COVID-19 by looking for specific antibodies created by your immune system while fighting the virus. It can take days or weeks for antibodies to form. As a result, antibody tests should not be used to diagnose COVID-19 infection.
RT-PCR stands for reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, which is the description for how the virus is detected. These tests work to identify the specific genetic sequences of COVID-19.
Antigen tests are another form of diagnostic test used to detect active COVID-19 infection. Instead of looking for genetic sequences like the RT-PCR test, antigen tests work to identify the specific proteins created by the virus.
While antigen tests are thought to be somewhat less sensitive than their PCR counterpart, assays such as the Quidel Sofia2 are highly accurate in detecting most COVID infections. Due to ease of use and rapid turnaround times, the Quidel Sofia2 antigen assay will be the primary COVID test used for diagnosing COVID-19 infection in most patients at Wilmington Health. It is important to emphasize to all patients that a negative test result from an antigen or PCR test only means that the patient is negative on the day of testing.
Yes. Federal and State guidelines require that we bill for the services we provide, without discrimination based on the patient’s ability to pay. However, operating within those same guidelines, we are able to offer various programs and assistance for those patients that are either unable to pay or who are finding it difficult to pay their medical bill.
On March 22nd, government funding ended for COVID-19 testing and treatment. On April 5th, 2022, government funding for vaccine administration also ended, which means that uninsured patients will have to pay out-of-pocket at that time for those services.
Resource: https://www.hrsa.gov/provider-relief
For more information on COVID-19 Testing, please visit: https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/coronavirus-disease-2019-testing-basics.