It's happening all over the United States. As more people meet criteria to be tested for COVID-19, quickly providing test results is becoming more difficult. Your community is no different.
As we prioritize tests for those who need them right away (hospitalized patients and frontline healthcare workers, to name a couple), please know we're also working as quickly as possible to provide COVID-19 test results with our in-house Lab teams and with private labs, who are also seeing a tremendous increase in testing demand.
While it may take a day or less to get a COVID-19 test result for those who need one right away, it may take 5 to 7 days to get less urgent test results.
We know it's tough to wait, especially with so much uncertainty right now. We are working with local county and state health officials on ways to fix this. In the meantime, thank you for being patient.
Antibody testing
Antibody testing for people who have had COVID-19 is in demand, but it may not be valuable. Antibody testing doesn't help diagnose COVID and cannot be used to confirm COVID immunity in the future. CDC COVID-19 testing information.
If you're experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, there are two options for screening and testing at Gundersen Health System:
- If you have a MyChart account and can be tested for COVID-19 at our Drive-Up Lab on the North Side of La Crosse, log in to MyChart to be screened for COVID-19 online and self-schedule a test. Simply choose Menu followed by COVID Screening. Guardians of children ages 3 and older also may use MyChart to screen and schedule a test for their child, if the child has a MyChart account and can be tested in La Crosse. You can also set up a MyChart account.
- If testing on the North Side of La Crosse is not convenient for you, please call the Gundersen COVID Nurse Line at (608) 775-4465 before you come in.
By phone or online, you will be asked screening questions to determine your next steps.
Note: You must be experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 to be tested at Gundersen Health System.
For questions about COVID-19, ask Ayla, our digital helper. You can find her in the lower right corner of our website.
Our nurses are fielding many calls on a variety of illnesses including COVID-19. We appreciate your patience as we work as quickly as possible to meet your needs.
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