Rapid COVID-19 testing is offered

Fort Lauderdale is now home to South Florida’s fourth COVID-19 rapid testing site, offering results in just a matter of hours.

The free blood tests are offered at Holiday Park, 1150 G. Harold Martin Drive. The results will be ready within two hours because of an on-site lab.

While faster, these antigen tests are slightly less accurate than the more common diagnostic tests, which are done with a throat or nasal swab, and the results shows whether you had the virus at the time the test was taken. But the traditional swab test can take days to receive results, and some overwhelmed labs were taking two weeks.

In addition to the Fort Lauderdale rapidresults site, South Florida has three other such sites for the public: two in MiamiDade and one in Palm Beach County.

The Holiday Park testing site, which had a soft opening Thursday, will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Appointments are required and can be made online at www.tourhealth.com.

“I believe this test will be very popular,” said Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis on Friday. As many as 1,000 people a day can be tested.

It will be available to anyone with COVID symptoms, and to people ages 5-17, and over age 65 without symptoms. “That might change depending on the popularity of the test,” Trantalis said.

The test will search for antigens within the blood to determine if the virus is present. The Florida Department of Emergency Management is footing the bill.

“We’re thankful the governor chose Fort Lauderdale as the testing site for all of Broward,” Trantalis said. “Let’s hope it helps in mitigating the spread of the virus.”

Trantalis said because the antigen tests are less accurate, he advises people with a positive result to take a swab test to verify the accuracy.

In Palm Beach County, rapid antigen testing is available 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday at the FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, 5444 Haverhill Road in West Palm Beach.

It is for anyone age 65 years or old, age 18 or younger, or anyone showing symptoms of COVID-19.

Appointments are required. Registration can be done online at www.tourhealth.com or by calling 866-416-6341.