In some cases, your provider may order tests that require swab samples. A few examples are the COVID-19 test, Vaginitis swab, Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) culture, Chlamydia trachomatis and N. gonorrhea swabs. Swab tests are typically performed at one of our flagship clinic locations.
Our Clinic Locations
Most swabs can be performed at our San Francisco, Beverly Hills, and New York clinic locations. After your appointment, your provider will submit a lab order and determine whether the swab can be completed in our facility. If a flagship clinic in nearby, you can schedule a Lab Tech Appointment via the Circle Medical app or website to complete the sample collection. Keep in mind that a lab tech appointment cannot be scheduled without an order from your provider.
When getting swab testing performed at our clinic locations, results are shared with Circle Medical automatically, and will be available in your Circle Medical app and web portal once they are complete.
Outside Facilities
Unfortunately, LabCorp and Quest Diagnostics do not perform swab collections. However, there are a few other places you can go for swab tests:
Local Healthcare Clinics: Many local healthcare clinics offer testing services at their facilities or through partnerships with a hospital or lab facility.
Pharmacies and Community Health Centers: Some pharmacies and health centers provide swab collection services.
Urgent Care: Many urgent cares offer swab collection services without the need for an appointment. See more information below.
Most facilities require a lab order to perform the swab collection. We recommend reaching out to the facility in advance to confirm if they accept LabCorp or Quest Diagnostics requisitions, and if it needs to be signed by your provider. Let the care team know if we can assist you during this process.
Swab Collection at an Urgent Care
Although urgent care facilities have various processes, most of them require the following:
Identification
Health Insurance Information (if available)
Lab Requisition
Ordering Provider’s Name and Contact
Ensure you bring your requisition form provided by your provider. Upon arrival, present your personal identification and insurance information at the front desk. You will be registered into their system, where they'll confirm your insurance details. Their staff will collect the swab sample and send it to a lab for analysis. Your results will be communicated to you by the provider from the facility.
Processing Time
The lab usually sends the final results 7-10 business days after the sample has been collected. Occasionally, swab tests can take longer to be analyzed. We encourage you to send us a message if you have not received the results within this time frame; we can follow up with the lab to determine the turnaround time for the specific test ordered.
Sharing Your Results
After your samples have been collected, ensure the results are forwarded to us. You (or the facility) can send them via fax to (888) 803-3331 or email them to [email protected].
Once received, our Medical Records team will add them to your chart and notify your provider to review them. A dedicated team will also review your results within 24 hours and ensure they are not urgent or critical. Your provider will send in the summary of your tests and recommendations within 3-5 days.
To have a more detailed conversation with your provider, you can schedule a follow-up appointment at your convenience where your provider can provide you with the full context of your results and create a care plan based on your concerns.
If you are currently experiencing any new or continued symptoms, schedule a follow-up appointment with your provider or send the care team a message for assistance.
References
Urgent Care
STD/STI Testing