American Family Care (AFC), the nation’s largest provider of urgent care and accessible primary care, is the first outpatient medical provider in Oregon to implement a rapid test for COVID-19 that recently received emergency use authorization by the FDA. Patients with coronavirus symptoms can take the test and within 15 minutes or less they will learn if they are positive for COVID-19.
“We are thrilled to start offering this caliber of antigen testing to our patients,” said Guru Sankar, independent owner and operator of five AFC clinics across Portland. “This new test enables us to find out if someone has the virus without waiting days for test results. Once a patient learns he or she has COVID, they can immediately get the care they need and limit exposing the virus to others in the community.”
AFC urgent care clinics in Beaverton, Oregon City and Lake Oswego are already offering the testing. AFC locations in northeast and northwest Portland should receive the equipment to start offering the tests in a few weeks.
This new test is called the Sofia SARS Antigen Fluorescent Immunoassay (FIA). It is manufactured by Quidel. The test runs on Sofia 2, an instrument that uses fluorescent chemistry to deliver a result in 15 minutes.
The new antigen test is one of many innovative tools AFC has unveiled to its patients since the start of the COVID-19 crisis, including telemedicine services, pre-screening “pods” (mobile exam rooms), and testing via drive-through, in-clinic or on-site.
About American Family Care:
Founded by Dr. Bruce Irwin with a single location in 1982, American Family Care has pioneered the concept of convenient, patient-centric healthcare. Today, with more than 200 clinics and 600 in-network physicians caring for nearly 3 million patients a year, AFC is the nation’s leading provider of urgent care, accessible primary care, and occupational medicine. Ranked by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest growing companies in the U.S., AFC’s stated mission is to provide the best healthcare possible, in a kind and caring environment, while respecting the rights of all patients, in an economical manner, at times and locations convenient to the patient.
AFC Portland opened in 2011 and independently owns and operates five urgent care clinics in the Portland Metropolitan area. For information on local clinics, visit afcurgentcareportland.com
