As the United States (and Pennsylvania) enter its worst days for new COVID cases since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, it’s common to hear the question “Where can I get antibody testing for COVID?”
This is because antibody testing is a quick blood test — sometimes done with a finger prick — that tells you whether your body has developed the proteins it needs to fight the COVID virus in your body.
It also means that you, at one point, had COVID. Whether you still have an active infection has to be decided later, but it’s more likely that you’re either asymptomatic or you experienced exceptionally light symptoms.
That means antibody testing doesn’t tell you if you currently have COVID. It’ll only tell you if you’ve had COVID in the past.
Still, if you’re wondering whether you’ve ever had COVID, you should be able to find out. At the very least, you might be able to sleep better.
Below, you’ll find three of the places that offer COVID antibody testing in Lancaster, PA.
1. Patient First
Website: Patientfirst.com
Test Site Address: 1625 Oregon Pike Lancaster PA 17601
Medical Facility Type: Urgent care
Patient First is one of the oldest urgent care facilities in Lancaster. It’s conveniently located just north of the city across the street from the Golden Triangle shopping complex.
Patient First is the first on our list partly because we love puns, but also because it has the best hours. You can run into Patient First without an appointment between 8:00 am and 10:00 pm and they’ll see you.
The only catch is that it’s an urgent care, so you never know if someone is available when you go there unannounced.
That’s why we recommend you call ahead if you want a COVID antibody test and you don’t feel like waiting for your primary care physician.
Plan to show up after 8:00 pm, get your blood test done, and walk out. If all goes smoothly, you can be in and out in a few minutes.
Bonus points if you pick up your flu shot while you’re there!
2. Lancaster General Hospital
Website: Lancastergeneralhealth.com
Test Site Address: 540 N. Duke St. Lancaster PA 17602
Medical Facility Type: Hospital
Lancaster General Hospital is a staple of Lancaster’s history. As the largest employer in the county, it’s also a staple of our local economy — even after it was bought by Penn Medicine.
Regardless, LGH is perhaps the most trusted source of healthcare in the county, and probably a little beyond.
Now that LGH is also part of Penn Medicine, it has access to some of the best doctors, equipment, and treatment methods that are available in the United States.
In other words, they’re really good at what they do.
Understandably, this means they’re really busy.
That’s why you have to have a doctor’s order, an appointment, and coronavirus symptoms to get any kind of COVID test.
If you don’t have symptoms, they’ll only test you if you have a scheduled surgery or if you’re travelling. You’ll also have to go to any one of LGH’s many satellite campuses, which you can find on their website.
So yes, you can get tested for COVID antibodies at LGH.
But it’s probably not worth your time unless you have medical or travel needs.
3. WellSpan
Website: Wellspan.org
Test Site Address: 268 Granite Run Dr. Lancaster PA 17601
Medical Facility Type: Outpatient laboratory
WellSpan is relatively new face in the Lancaster County medical community. Most of their facilities pepper the outskirts of Lancaster City, or they have some of the only facilities available in smaller towns (like Ephrata).
To get tested, WellSpan requires you to have a physician’s order, which usually only happens if you have other medical needs. It’s also only open from 7:00 am to 12:00 pm, so you have a really small window to get your test done.
Regardless, WellSpan is still a place you can go to get tested for antibodies if you have a prior recommendation.
It’s just not the easiest thing to schedule if you work 8 hours per day.
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