Here’s Where To Get A COVID-19 PCR Test Result in Less than 72 hours in NYC

Rushing to find a place that guarantees you a COVID-19 PCR test result in less than 72 hours in NYC? Need a result in 24-48 hours? Don’t panic. Pat and I researched for days, so you don’t have to, and found 4 reliable places. Here’s where to go in or near Manhattan, New York.

Fun fact, if you live in the state of Connecticut, legally clinics cannot provide you with your COVID test result via email. No matter how hard you plea. They are required to hand it to you in person. This can be problematic if you are traveling and need a COVID-19 PCR test result in less than 72 hours before your flight. Luckily, New York doesn’t operate that way. So when Patrick and I had to get a COVID-19 PCR test result in less than 72 hours for our trip to St. Barth, we scoured the internet for places that would guarantee results in such a short period of time and send them via email. While you think it would be easy, many places don’t guarantee results within 48 – 72 hours. While it’s possible to get results the same day, if they have a large number of people getting tested (like around the holidays), the test results can take up to 5 – 10 days. And when you’re traveling, the word “maybe” doesn’t cut it, you need a guarantee. Luckily after hours of research, Pat and I found a few clinics that guarantee a COVID-19 PCR test result in less than 72 hours.

1. COVID Express in NYC

Testing facility locations: Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens
Reservation Required: Appointment Only
Type of test: PCR nasal swab
Results back within: 24 hours

This is the testing facility Pat and I used and the one I would recommend based on first-hand experience. They have facilities everywhere including Jamaica, Chelsea, Central Harlem, Fort Greene, Crown Heights, and Morrisania. The process is simple. Appointments become available 48 hours beforehand. So on midnight 2 days before you need your test done, go to the link below, and schedule your appointment. The majority of the testing facilities are in previous STD testing facilities, which means they have labs on-site. That’s why they’re able to give you rapid PCR-test results within 24-48 hours. Pat and I booked our test at the Jamaica clinic and this was our experience:

We booked the test for 10AM and 10:20AM on a Thursday. Before you arrive, you are asked to create an account on their website portal, which is where you will be receiving your COVID test results. We arrived at 9:30AM and they let us in earlier. We were later told that the time of day you book doesn’t matter, you can come at any time. It’s just a requirement because they only administer a certain number of tests each day. We saw a few people in line who hadn’t booked waiting for on the spot tests, but they let us right in. You sanitize your hands upon entry, go down a flight of stairs, sanitize your hands again, answer a few questions for survey purposes and go to the waiting room. There are just 2 or 4 other people in the waiting room with you. They call you up to the reception, ask for your insurance and information, ask if you’ve had COVID symptoms and sit you back down. 2 minutes later, I’m being called into a room.

This was my first PCR test. I was freaking out a bit because of all the horror stories I had heard about. They have me sanitize my hands again once in the room, blow my nose, and walk me through the process. To be quite honest, the test was fast and not as uncomfortable as people say. It is not a brain poke, as people say. In fact, the swab doesn’t even go up in that direction. The swab goes to the back of your throat, kind of like a strep throat test, but through the nasal cavity. It’s uncomfortable for maybe 10 seconds and then that’s it. You’re done. 4 hours later, I get an email that my results are ready and in the portal I had created earlier. I log on and there they are: negative. I’m ready for my trip!

2. CareCube

Testing facility locations: Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island City
Reservation Required: Appointment Only
Type of test: PCR nasal swab
Results back within: 24 – 48 hours

This is the testing facility Pat and I first came across that we were considering going to. But we ended up going with the NYC gov COVID Express facilities because they seemed a bit more organized. Reviews for CareCube are positive, but our experience was a bit meddled. We booked our appointment the week before and were told we would get a call to confirm our appointment. We never got the call. The day before the test we received an email confirming our appointment. When Pat called the facility, they said appointments weren’t even accepted, it was walk-in only. Needless to say, you can show up and get a test or book an appointment just to be safe.

3. Manhattan Office of Medicine

Testing facility locations: Midtown East, Upper East Side, Columbus Circle (not all locations may conduct COVID tests so call beforehand to confirm which locations do)
Reservation Required: Virtual Physicians Visit Required then You Can Book Your Appointment
Type of test: PCR nasal swab
Results back within: 48 – 72 hours

The Manhattan Office of Medicine requires that you have a virtual physicians visit via their app or website prior to coming in. The visit is just a formality to ask you questions about whether you have symptoms, why you’re coming in, etc. Once you’ve done you’re visit, you can call and schedule an appointment time to come in for your COVID PCR test.

4. NYU Langone

Testing facility locations: Midtown and other locations (call and ask!)
Reservation Required: Virtual Physicians Visit Required then You Can Book Your Appointment
Type of test: PCR nasal swab
Results back within: 24 – 48 hours

If the COVID Express testing facility had fallen through, NYU Langone would’ve been my backup. When I called NYU Langone, they were super clear and straightforward about the process. They seemed super confident in their responses and had me feel comfortable knowing that I would get my test results in time. The process is similar to that of the Manhattan Office of Medicine. First, a virtual visit is required, then you can go in for your appointment.

>> Next: A Timeline of How the Coronavirus Impacted My Life and Travels In the Last 7 Days

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