COVID-19 Testing FAQ

At this time, due to limited testing capacity at our stand-alone site, we are only able to test our staff and existing TPIRC and Southern California Food Allergy Institute patients and their immediate family members living within the same household. We are actively working to increase our testing capacity, as needed.

As widely acknowledged by the scientific and medical communities, additional access to timely testing is needed in order to identify, track and treat individuals who may currently be infected with COVID-19 or who may be recovering from the disease but previously undiagnosed. As part of our efforts to protect the health and safety of our patients and employees, we have had COVID-19 testing available for our employees in order to maintain a transmission-free environment. We are now in a position to extend the offer of much needed testing to patients and their families on a limited basis.

We believe in order to provide the greatest level of certainty for COVID-19 exposure the proper procedure is to utilize both of the COVID-19 tests currently publicly available. Therefore, our test package includes both the CDC 2019-nCoV Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic test (commonly known as the PCR Throat swab test) and the SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM serological antibody test (serum antibody test).

Please Note: We have determined that in order to reduce the risk of collecting an invalid blood sample for the serum antibody test, we will be performing a venous blood draw to collect a blood sample instead of a finger-poke as is commonly seen or discussed for the serum antibody test.

We expect to be able to return the results of both tests within 36 to 72 hours of completing your appointment, however we can not guarantee results will be returned within this time frame due to testing capacity constraints at our partner laboratories. Your test results, and an interpretation of the results, will be available via a secure, online portal. If either of your test results come back positive you will receive a phone call from a member of our team. We are required by law to submit any positive test results information to local and federal health agencies.

Testing will take place at a stand-alone facility directly adjacent to our headquarters. The testing site has dedicated parking for patients and contact-less check-in. Our testing room is equipped with infection control measures including negative pressure airflow controls to minimize airborne infection risks, sterilization protocol for each patient visit, and our testing staff will be dressed in full protective equipment for the safety of all participants.

The cost for the combined CDC 2019-nCoV Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic test and the SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM serological antibody test will be $250 per person tested. Reliable testing kits and diagnostic capacity are currently difficult to procure, however we have been able to purchase an initial quantity of each test at a significant cost to our organization. Patients paying with cash or Kaiser/HMO patients will be required to pay the $250 fee at time of test registration. Patients utilizing PPO insurance will be required to pay a fee of $150 at the time of test registration. We will submit testing costs to your insurance for reimbursement. CMS guidelines for reimbursement are being updated regularly so we cannot confirm or guarantee the amount of reimbursement at this time.

In order to register for COVID-19 testing you must complete our questionnaire, sign all required consent forms and pay for testing prior to scheduling your appointment (test fees are fully refunded if you decide not to proceed with testing). Once we have reviewed and confirmed your information we will contact you to schedule your test appointment.

You will receive an email the day before your test appointment detailing the procedures to follow on the day of your test. The email will list the address of the testing location, a link to our virtual check-in process when you arrive on-site and information on the testing process. Please bring valid identification for anyone being tested that day, a face mask and a pen to write with if needed.