COVID-19 Resource Center
Health Advisory:If you are experiencing fever and/or respiratory symptoms, please call the Clinic at 941-964-2276 for instructions prior to your visit.
Office HoursThe Boca Grande Health Clinic Hours of Operation are 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM Monday thru Friday, except Holidays. If you need to reach the on-call physician after hours, call 941-964-2276 for instructions.
COVID-19 Testing
On Island COVID-19 testing is available to Clinic patients. There are basically two kinds of tests available: viral tests and antibody tests. A viral test tells you if you have a current infection. An antibody test might tell you if you had a past infection.
We currently offer COVID-19 testing with a saliva PCR test, a molecular test that detects the virus’s genetic material. This is a test for active infection. You perform the test at home and ship the sample via FedEx Express. Results are usually available in one to three days. We also have rapid antigen testing, which involves a nasal swab and tests for active infection. We perform the rapid tests in a designated area outside of the Annex building.
Remember, testing plays an important role in the overall approach to containing the virus. However, testing cannot replace the need to wear face coverings. When around others not in your household, keep a safe distance (at least six feet) while in public, avoid large gatherings (especially indoors) and wash your hands frequently.
COVID-19 Antibody Testing
The Clinic offers COVID-19 Antibody Testing through Quest Diagnostics. This test requires a blood draw and can give confirmation of a previous infection with COVID-19. Call our dedicated line at 941-964-0490 for more information and to schedule an appointment.
COVID-19 Testing at the Clinic: At a Glance
| Test Name | Purpose/Use | Method of Collection | Time Until Result | Reliability (how often the test is accurate) | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid Antigen Detects viral proteins | Use in the first 1-5 days of symptoms (Best used in those that are ill) | Nasal swab | 15 minutes | Negative result ~80% accurate Positive result ~95% accurate | Preliminary result Follow with PCR for confirmation. |
| PCR Detects viral RNA | Use in symptomatic or for asymptomatic (exposure or after travel) | Saliva | 1-3 days | “Gold standard” 95% accurate in those that are ill | Can be less accurate if done early in illness or early after exposure. |
| IgG Antibody | Use to determine if recovered from previous infection Use to determine plasma donor | Blood draw | 1-3 days | Over 90% accurate (see “other”) | Best done 4-6 weeks after infection. Not all develop antibodies after confirmed acute infection and can fall to non-detectable levels 3-4 months after acute infection. |
See the Clinic’s COVID-19 Weekly Testing Statistics
Gasparilla Island Wastewater COVID-19 Detection Testing Data
What does it mean?
The data points represent the concentration of 2 locations (N1 and N2) on the nucleocapside gene of SARS CoV2, the virus responsible for Covid-19 infections, that is detected each week in the wastewater of Gasparilla Island. Studies have shown that spikes of detectable virus concentration in the wastewater can precede detection of an increase of community cases of Covid-19 by 4-7 days. This data is monitored to assist with focusing testing, resources and education on preparation and precautions in the community.
COVID-19 in Florida
Find out the activity level of COVID-19 in Florida using Florida’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) Dashboard (Web Mapping Application), which provides the most up-to-date information on COVID-19 cases by county
The Florida Department of Health website also has data available by zip code: Check our zip code 33921
Access Johns Hopkins University’s COVID-19 Tracking Project data on Florida and see real-time global and individual country data.