General Questions
We perform Covid-19 testing for travel as well as COVID infection detection
Yes, the results can be used for travel
Yes, we are able to produce a results document for school, work or travel.
Yes the cost of the test includes the travel document
No, a certificate of recovery is a separate charge.
We provide you with a hard copy of the results and we will send you an electronic version via encrypted email.
Yes, we are able to able your passport information to the testing certificate
We can offer testing for patients with or without symptoms of covid. This can be used for travel or to detect covid infections.
We also offer a combined flu/covid swab since many covid symptoms are similar to the flu. This will help differentiate if your symptoms are related to the flu or to covid. This will help guide the appropriate treatment as treatment is different for these 2 infections.
We perform the rapid antigen test and a Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) which is has equivalent accuracy to PCR.
For more details on these tests please review our test details section.
We recommend testing on patients who are concerned they might be infected with Covid as they have covid symptoms or if they were in direct contact with someone who was recently diagnosed with covid.
Unfortunately, at this time, these tests are not covered by OHIP.
Please see the Ontario Government website for the most up to date information.
If you test is positive, we can arrange for you to speak to one of our Watson Medical Clinic doctors the same day to guide your treatment. We also recommend that you follow public health guidelines .
You can click Book Test Now
We have a designated area set up just outside our clinic that is strictly for Covid testing. All appropriate public health precautions will be in effect.
Appointments can be cancelled at any time but there will be a $10 administrative fee.
Yes, as long as there is availability and there is no charge to reschedule your appointment.
Yes, you are able to change the type of test booked at any time prior to your appointment
Yes, all our tests are Health Canada Approved. Please visit their website.
No it will not impact the test results.
Yes, we are part of Watson Medical Clinic
Please see our About Us section
Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) (PCR Accuracy Equivalent)
Both the PCR and Cue Health test are Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests (NAATs). As per the CDC classification, there are 2 main types of NAATs, RT-PCR and Isothermal Amplification.
Cue Health test is an Isothermal Amplification test. The Cue Health test has the highest correlation with PCR as seen in a recent Mayo clinic study where it correlated 98% of the time with PCR testing.
The test takes ~20 minutes to complete
We swab your anterior nostril and perform the test on site
A Cue health NAAT test can detect infections earlier as it needs a lower viral load than a rapid antigen test.
The test can remain positive for longer periods of time than the rapid antigen. So even after you are no longer infectious, the NAAT can still pick up remnants of the virus genetic material and be positive for weeks after infection.
This is one of the reasons that Health Canada does not require an individual to repeat a NAAT (PCR) up to 180 days from their initial positive test.
Yes, a NAAT is acceptable for travel to the US and for return to Canada. It is also accepted by some EU countries.
Test Related Questions
An antigen test looks for proteins on the virus and requires more virus to be present and therefore will be detected later in the course of illness.
A NAAT looks for genetic material on the virus and can pick up COVID earlier in the infection than the antigen test
The ability for the test to work is dependent on the viral load and the NAAT is able to detect infection with a lower viral load. So in theory, it will depend on what stage of the infection you are in.
If it is early or mild symptoms, in most cases the NAAT will be more sensitive than the rapid antigen test. Around day 3-5 of a symptomatic infection, the tests will likely both pick up the infection.
This is a good review article
Early on, there might not be enough virus in the nostril for the rapid antigen to detect infection and it will lead to a false positive test.
This is a good review article
We use anterior nasal swab which is more comfortable and safer than the nasopharyngeal swab that is used with standard PCR testing.
It takes ~15 minutes for the results to become available
The Sofia rapid antigen test is read by a Fluorescent Immunoassay analyzer rather than by viewing it yourself and deciding if the test is positive. This makes it a more objective test and studies show that it is more sensitive than home based rapid antigen tests such as Panbio or BTNX. You can review this on Health Canada’s website or Johns Hopkins website.
There is significant overlap in the covid and flu symptoms. Given that the treatment and management is different, it would be very helpful to identify which disease is causing your symptoms.