Symptomless, but needing to be Covid-19 tested to satisfy visitation restrictions and to become essential care givers for my mom at Three Forks Assisted Living, my wife and I checked out numerous options, with varying degrees (all acceptable) of satisfaction regarding costs, ease reaching locations of testing, and other general concerns. I will admit that Vivian did most of the pre-looking and decision-making, first by phone and then followed up on-line, and handled everything wonderfully!
After all “was said and done,” we chose the Testing Location at Walmart Forney Store #5191, because it appeared to be closest and most cost-effective and looked to be going smoothly when we had passed by earlier during the week.
On-line instructions were clear and pretty easy to follow, even for an “old blue electric typewriter” guy such as this old school teacher. Vivian did the most intensive reading and thinking, and then she schooled me so that we would be prepared for “THE DAY.”
Our appointments were 7:50 a. m. for Don and 8:00 a. m. for Vivian, so we set our alarms an extra halfhour early for Monday, September 28, and prepared ourselves with a copy of where to go and what to bring. We each had testing vouchers, good for the named person and for one test only.
We arrived several minutes early, because school and work traffic was lighter than we had expected, but we recommend to keep in mind how “backed up” things can be as people get going on a workday.
We moved up slowly to the first STATION with masks on properly worn, and I rolled down the window to hear what the registration lady had to say. Before the rolling stopped we noticed her sign which read, “Do not lower your window,” so back up went the glass. Her next handheld sign stated the following: Place your registration document and governmentissued identification card against the window. Mine was checked first and Vivian’s second. All went smoothly and pleasantly.
The final sign-posted request at this station was for us to move forward to the next station, which we slowly did.
The instructions there began with a written request to again show our testing documents so that the “technician” could label the testing receptacle materials for each of us. After that was completed, the sign indicated we should take a testing packet, one for each of us, handed to us singly through our “partially lowered window” on the end of one of those “grab sticks” with a movable claw at the end. Everything was precisely documented and kept clean and sterile—and all involved kept masks in place.
When we moved to the final station, a more official and a little older gentleman was ready with final instructions and the pre-packaged testing kits. He wore a complete face shield. His sign showed a telephone number to call, and we received instructions via the phone as the man gave them to us and made suggestions as we proceeded.
We again showed our identification cards!
I went first and placed my folded testing document into the packet’s compartment at the back. Then, I opened the bag and took out/opened the tube that would hold the completed testing swab. Next, came the opening of the bag surrounding the testing swab, followed by the insertion of the swab into one nostril— about ¾ to 1 inch—and then the twisting and twirling for a timed sample-taking. That was followed by the remaining nostril. Finally, the swab was placed into the tube, and half of the stick was broken off so that the lid could be put into place. Everything was placed into the labelled bag, sealed, and then placed into a lined ice chest pushed close to the car window with the pharmacist staying as far back as possible.
This was repeated for my wife. We were thanked and wished a good rest of the day, and we both decided we knew the man who had tested us. (Not only did he look familiar, but he pronounced THEMER correctly!)
We could not have been more pleased with the entire process, from initial contact through the testing procedures. It was all pleasant, efficient, and clinical—and the people staffing the testing center were the BEST!
P. S. The swabbing inside the nostrils was not fun, but it certainly was not as bad as we had anticipated and nothing to be feared! “Hats off to all the workers at the testing station!
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