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Same-Day COVID Testing for Travelers

September 17, 2021

In light of the Delta variant, Mu variant, and breakthrough cases in vaccinated individuals, COVID-19 still presents a challenge for travelers. Requirements change quickly and vary by country or region. One of the biggest challenges is making sure travelers can be tested and receive test results quickly enough, since the longer someone has to wait for test results, the longer they have to isolate themselves to avoid becoming infected between testing and departure.

If you’re planning a trip and need a negative COVID test to board the plane, check out our 24-hour and same-day COVID tests for travel.

IGeneX COVID-19 Airline Travel Program

IGeneX offers two different expedited COVID-19 RT-PCR tests for travelers or anyone with time-sensitive testing needs. Learn how they work and how to order one below.

How the tests work

IGeneX’s COVID tests for travel are RT-PCR tests – the most reliable type of test for COVID-19. By contrast, most rapid COVID-19 tests are antigen tests, which are statistically less reliable and more likely to result in false negatives. With a rapid RT-PCR test from IGeneX, you can feel safer and more certain about your results. Several countries require the RT-PCR tests over the unreliable rapid antigen tests.

Patients have two options:

24-hour test results
Same-day test results

Both tests are self-swab nasal tests performed on-site at the IGeneX lab in Milpitas. No special preparation, such as fasting, is needed. Simply show up at the drive-thru tent a few minutes before your appointment time, prepare to show verification of your appointment, and follow the staff’s instructions on using the self-swab kit. Results will be sent via secured email within the specified time (24 hours or the same day as testing).

How to order a test

First, read the overview of the IGeneX COVID-19 expedited test options. Once you’ve chosen your test, scroll down and click the button for either 24-hour or same-day results.

Note:

Tests must be ordered at least one day in advance.
Testing is performed on-site at the IGeneX headquarters in Milpitas.
At this time, IGeneX cannot assist with travel to Hawaii or China. Check the IGeneX website for updates.
IGeneX will prepare the additional ‘Certificate of Testing for COVID-19’ for travelers to Japan, and meet other special paperwork requirements for different countries, at no additional cost.

Current risks & concerns

The Delta variant

Delta is currently the predominant variant of the virus in the United States, according to the CDC. The Delta variant is more contagious than previous variants – in other words, it spreads faster and causes more infections. The CDC also reports that it may cause more severe illness in unvaccinated people than previous variants.

Though breakthrough cases are possible (more on that below), the CDC emphasizes that vaccines are effective against all variants of the COVID-19 virus, including the Delta variant. They report that the majority of current hospitalizations are unvaccinated people and that unvaccinated people remain at the greatest risk for severe cases.

Breakthrough cases

Since vaccine rollouts began in Spring, there have been some “breakthrough cases,” or cases of COVID-19 occurring in people who have been vaccinated.

Many of these cases are milder than cases in unvaccinated people, and research suggests that vaccinated people who catch the virus may be contagious for shorter periods of time than unvaccinated people. However, vaccinated people with symptomatic cases can still transmit the disease to others. (Researchers are not sure if vaccinated people with asymptomatic cases are contagious.)

Ultimately, caution – such as wearing masks indoors – is still advised even for those who have been vaccinated.

“Long COVID”

There is also increasing evidence of what doctors call “long COVID” or “long-haul COVID.” These are cases in which people experience symptoms weeks to months after COVID has seemingly resolved. One NPR article features a woman who started experiencing chronic burning sensations, tingling, and numbness in her hands and feet after confirming the resolution of her COVID-19 symptoms with a negative test.

While long COVID is still a new, poorly defined category of illness, many researchers are paying attention to the phenomenon, and some suggest it may be the result of an autoimmune response. Cases of long COVID have been documented in both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, though as mentioned, unvaccinated people are still at the greatest risk.

IGeneX COVID Testing

IGeneX is dedicated to staying on top of current COVID-19 data as well as safety advisories and travel policies. In addition to same-day COVID testing for travelers, IGeneX offers several tests for active COVID infections as well as an immune response test to measure the level of your antibodies from the vaccine or a natural infection. Learn more about the tests and how to order one today.

Bartonella ImmunoBlots are coming soon!

June 22, 2021

You may already be familiar with IGeneX’s ImmunoBlots for Lyme disease, TBRF, and COVID-19. Now, IGeneX is happy to announce that Bartonella will soon be joining the ImmunoBlot revolution. Join us for an educational webinar to learn how the ImmunoBlot takes Bartonella testing to the next level.

JULY 14, 2021 | 5PM PT/8PM ET

Act now! Attendance limited to 200 participants.

IGeneX Tests its 2000th Airline Traveler for COVID-19

December 17, 2020

IGeneX has just tested its 2000th airline traveler for COVID-19. We started offering drive thru testing for airline travelers in October, when various states and countries put policies in place requiring visitors to be tested. Most destinations require that visitors provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival. Some countries are even more strict: China requires that both an RT-PCR and IgM antibody test be taken within 48 hours before boarding. Regardless of whether it’s two or three days, finding a test that can be completed in that short of a time frame can be challenging.

COVID-19: Testing of Asymptomatic People

December 4, 2020

As of September, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have changed their position on COVID-19 testing for asymptomatic people. Though their recommendations still prioritize people with symptoms, the CDC now explicitly includes people who have had close contact with someone with a confirmed case of COVID-19, regardless of whether they themselves have symptoms.

The CDC now recommends testing for the following groups:

People with active symptoms of COVID-19
People who have had close contact (within 6 feet of an infected person for a total of 15 minutes or more) with an infected person
People who have been asked to get testing by their healthcare provider, local, or state health department

It’s not clear why the CDC made the change, but it may be due in part to higher availability of testing supplies in many parts of the country.

Read the full CDC recommendation on testing for COVID-19.

The Benefits of COVID-19 Testing for Asymptomatic People

For a long time, many health organizations discouraged asymptomatic people from seeking testing in order to prioritize symptomatic people and frontline workers. But wider testing of asymptomatic people in addition to symptomatic people gives us more accurate data about community spread and helps with contact tracing.

Asymptomatic COVID-19 Testing Quick Facts

Not all cases that seem asymptomatic remain that way. You can start without symptoms and develop symptoms later, even after getting negative test results. This is known as being pre-symptomatic. It can take several days for enough of the virus to accumulate in your system to show up on a test.
Many don’t notice “hidden symptoms.” Some people may be unaware that they are actually symptomatic, especially if their symptoms are mild.
1 in 5 cases will remain asymptomatic. When controlling for cases that are not symptomatic at the time of diagnosis but become symptomatic later, several studies estimate that about 20% of COVID-19 cases are truly asymptomatic.
Asymptomatic people are still contagious. People without symptoms can and do spread COVID-19, which is why the testing of asymptomatic people can be so helpful for data and contact tracing. Some experts believe that asymptomatic people may not spread the virus as efficiently as those with symptoms, but there is disagreement over this theory.

The Type of Test Matters

There are several distinct types of tests for active COVID-19 detection. Traditional PCR and RT-PCR are currently the most reliable for detecting active infection, and can be used on asymptomatic people.

Another option is an antigen test, sometimes called a “rapid test.” While results can be obtained much faster than from PCR tests – in as few as 15 minutes, compared to days for PCR – these tests are much less accurate. Some data suggests that rapid tests can have a false negative rate as high as 50%. In fact, it has been suggested that the White House outbreak in early October was caused partly by a reliance on rapid tests that were designed to be used only “within the first seven days of the onset of symptoms.” In other words, the tests were not designed for asymptomatic people.

If you do not have symptoms but have had close contact with an infected person, it’s important that you get a PCR test, the most accurate type of test, ideally 5-9 days after your last contact.

COVID and Flu Season

November 2, 2020

This winter, many wonder if we should expect a lighter flu season 2020 because of the COVID safety protocols many Americans are adopting, such as mask-wearing and social distancing. Unfortunately, most experts warn that Americans should prepare for the worst.

Flu season 2020: Prepare for a “twindemic”

Though it is totally preventable through safe, reliable vaccines, the seasonal flu kills between 12,000 and 61,000 people every year, and hospitalizes even more. Most experts agree that the COVID-19 pandemic will complicate flu season 2020 in the U.S.

Because the U.S. COVID response has been inconsistent and varied across states, there is little evidence that we should expect a lighter flu season 2020 such as the one seen in the Southern Hemisphere, where the COVID responses like travel restrictions and contact tracing – particularly in Australia and New Zealand – were swifter, more unified, and more comprehensive.

Instead, doctors and epidemiologists warn that American hospitals are already at risk of being strained from spikes in COVID. Simultaneous upticks in COVID and the flu could seriously overwhelm healthcare systems and lead to many more severe cases and deaths.

With so much we still don’t know about COVID, there are lots of questions about how the two illnesses will interact this winter. Experts have pointed out the following important considerations:

You can be infected with COVID and the flu simultaneously.

Though the concept known as “viral competition” means that viruses compete for hosts and one may “win out” over the other, it is possible to be infected with multiple viruses at once. Typically, this leads to much more severe illness. The most common co-infections with COVID have been influenza and rhinovirus, the virus that causes the common cold.

Influenza is known to make you more susceptible to other pathogens.

It’s believed that many who died during the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic actually died from “superinfections” of staphylococcal pneumonia on top of the flu.

Unlike with COVID, children under age 2 are the highest-risk group for influenza.

Very young children can be infected, spread, and have severe complications and/or die from the flu much more easily than from COVID. When you get your flu shot, you should make sure to get children aged 6 months and up vaccinated as well.

COVID and flu symptoms are very similar.

Both COVID-19 and influenza can cause fevers, chills, fatigue, and cough. This means testing will be more important than ever. However, there are some differences in symptoms. Flu symptoms typically come on very quickly whereas COVID symptoms can come on gradually or not at all.

Nevertheless, it’s crucial to talk to your primary health care provider if you feel any flu-like symptoms.

Keeping your family safe

Most experts suggest the following steps for protecting yourself and your family during flu season 2020.

Get a flu vaccine. Get a flu shot for yourself as well as children at least 6 months old as soon as possible.
Stick to COVID safety protocols. It’s more important than ever to slow the spread of COVID-19 by continuing to wear masks in public, avoiding close contact with those outside your household, and washing hands frequently to avoid becoming a vector for illness and possibly straining American hospitals.
Stay home from work and school if you’re sick, but don’t skip doctor’s appointments. It’s crucial to pay attention to your health during this time, and visiting the doctor – to get vaccinated or for other health concerns – is perfectly safe.
Keep yourself and your family healthy. Eat nutritiously, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, and practice good stress management to keep your immune system in shape.

It’s incredibly important for those with Lyme disease, tick-borne diseases, or experiencing Lyme-like symptoms to still seek medical advice and treatment during this time. Don’t avoid your doctor out of fear of contagion. By practicing COVID safety protocols, you can safely get medical care. Now more than ever, it’s important to prioritize your health.

Visit IGeneX Virtually at ILADS 2020

September 9, 2020

The ILADS conference is the premier educational event for physicians and medical professionals who have an interest in diagnosing and treating Lyme and associated tick-borne diseases. IGeneX will be hosting a Virtual Booth and will have two speaking sessions. We hope to see you there.

Virtual Exhibitor Hall
Stop by and schedule a meeting with an IGeneX representative who can answer any questions you may have on the company or our testing. Be sure to ask about our recent New York State approval for TBRF ImmunoBlots, as well how IGeneX is providing COVID-19 testing for governments, schools, employers, and hospitals across the United States. Below is a video that will be playing at the booth.

IGeneX Speakers
Dr. Jyotsna Shah
Babesiosis and Theileriosis – Update on Current Diagnostic Methods
9/10/2020 | 12:20pm – 12:40pm ET

Dr. Joseph Burrascano
Making Rational Choices when Testing for Tick-Borne Diseases
9/10/2020 | 12:40pm – 1:00pm ET

Milpitas Loves IGeneX COVID-19 Testing

June 18, 2020

The City of Milpitas is the first in Santa Clara County to create a mobile testing site for COVID-19, allowing the City to increase testing of at-risk populations throughout the city limits. This innovative testing model, which utilizes a Milpitas Fire Department ambulance as the testing base, has been funded by the Milpitas City Council through August 7, extending the initial funding period that would end on June 30, 2020. The City has partnered with local company IGeneX, creating a public-private partnership to bring mobile COVID-19 testing to the community.

Read the full story here.

Why an ImmunoBlot is a superior COVID-19 Antibody test

May 1, 2020

In an ImmunoBlot, purified SARS-CoV-2 specific antigens are sprayed as straight lines onto a nitrocellulose membrane and cut into 3mm wide strips. The antigen strip is incubated with patient serum in each trough of an incubation tray. If specific antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 antigens are present, they will bind to the corresponding antigen bands. After washing away unbound antibodies, the bound SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies are detected with alkaline phosphatase conjugated goat anti human IgM or IgG antibody. A dark purple precipitate will develop on the antigen-antibody complexes. Bands are visualized and scored for intensity relative to the positive and negative controls.

Currently many Lateral flow assays and ELISA tests for detection of SARS- CoV-2 antibodies in human blood samples are available. The Lateral Flow tests are rapid and only require a drop of blood. However, they lack sensitivity and specificity. ELISA tests currently on the market are claiming high specificity, however there is very little information about sensitivity of these tests. Based on the studies to date, the ImmunoBlots prepared using recombinant proteins have superior specificity and sensitivity compared to ELISA and Lateral Flow assays.

Learn more why an ImmunoBlot gives the best answer.

COVID-19 RNA and Antibody Testing Now Available

April 2, 2020

IGeneX is supporting the public health response to expand the availability of testing for COVID-19. We are offering both an RNA test and antibody test.

RNA Test
The SARS-CoV-2 Real-Time RT-PCR test detects the presence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. This test determines if a patient is currently infected and should be used on patients showing symptoms such as fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. If positive, the patient can be quarantined and treated before the disease spreads. We also recommend testing asymptomatic patients, who are not displaying symptoms but may expose and transfer the virus to others.

Antibody Test
Antibody testing determines whether a patient has been exposed to SARS-CoV-2 and if the patient’s immune system has produced antibodies against the infection. We utilize our superior ImmunoBlot technology for our antibody tests. We offer a standalone IgG antibody test as well as an IgM/IgG antibody test. Antibody positivity likely means a person has recovered and may have protective immunity. This test is valuable in determining if it’s safe for someone to return to work or school.

Learn more about the COVID-19 tests here.

Important COVID-19 Coronavirus Message from IGeneX

March 24, 2020

Due to a Shelter In Place order mandated by the State of California concerning COVID-19, many “non-essential” businesses throughout the San Francisco Bay Area will be closed for the next few weeks. IGeneX, however, will continue to be open to receive and process patient samples. During this time, our Billing and Customer Support staffing hours will be reduced, as we enact additional social distancing policies to do our part to limit the spread of the Coronavirus.

Your satisfaction remains a top priority for us, and our staff will be here to address your needs as quickly as possible. Please contact us at 1-800-832-3200 if you have any questions or concerns.

Category: Uncategorized