What to know about COVID testing in Massachusetts before traveling for the holidays

Visiting friends or family for the holidays? You may want to pack a COVID-19 test somewhere between the Christmas presents and cozy sweaters.

COVID-19 testing remains part of Massachusetts’ overall approach to tracking and preventing transmission, and recent weeks have seen an uptick in testing as cases rise and holiday travel plans get underway.

Here's what you need to know about where to score a test, how much it could cost you, and how long you might have to wait:

Increasing demand: Free COVID testing near you

When Ashland first opened its free COVID-19 testing site earlier in the fall, the site averaged between 95 to 120 people each day, according to police Sgt. Ed Burman, the town’s COVID-19 point man. Now, that number is somewhere around 350 to 400 people a day — and counting.

“Our testing site has been extremely busy,” Burman said.

COVID-19 tests are being administered at the commuter rail parking lot in Ashland.
COVID-19 tests are being administered at the commuter rail parking lot in Ashland.

Located at Ashland’s MBTA commuter rail station off of Memorial Drive, the drive-through testing site is open to all Massachusetts residents and offers free PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests. Walk-ins are welcome, but check holiday hours online at ashlandmass.com/765/Coronavirus-2021.

“We think that’s one of the reasons that our site is so popular, is that you don’t need an appointment,” Burman said. The site has plenty of testing supplies to keep up with demand, though wait times have been a bit longer lately, he said.

This time last year: Line for Framingham's drive-thru COVID-19 test site stretched to MassPike

Framingham also offers free testing for all Massachusetts residents at Saint Tarcisius Parish on Waverly Street, though the site — funded through the not-for-profit Project Beacon — requires an appointment.

The volume of people looking to get tested at Milford Regional Urgent Care locations lately has been about 20% higher than in the three weeks before Thanksgiving, according to Dr. Mike Connors, physician director of Urgent Care for Milford Regional Physician Group.

Patient wait times to be tested and seen by a provider have roughly doubled in the last month, Connors said.

Ashland’s state-funded site has seen a mix of people coming in for tests recently, including close contacts, symptomatic individuals and their families, and people who need a negative PCR test to travel, according to Burman.

Who should get a COVID test, and how?

Massachusetts advises testing if someone develops symptoms of COVID-19, or if they’ve been in close contact with someone who has tested positive. Those who have been exposed to COVID-19 but have no symptoms should wait five to seven days after exposure before getting tested, Connors said.

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises testing before and after traveling if not fully vaccinated. Testing requirements and travel restrictions may vary by destination, and travelers can stay up to date using tools such as the online guide from Sherpa, a company that specializes in international travel requirements.

Test seekers should also call their primary care providers before venturing out to an urgent care location, according to Connors. Most PCP offices can schedule a quick visit and administer a PCR test right in the office, and the turnaround time for results is usually less than 24 hours, he said.

Traveler tips: What travelers should know about free at-home COVID testing

And when it comes to testing, the two main types of diagnostic tests — PCR and antigen — offer different benefits and drawbacks. PCR tests are highly sensitive and precise, but they often take hours or days to get results back. They can also cost more than $100 per test and may not be covered under insurance if not medically necessary.

Rapid antigen tests are cheaper, offer results in a matter of minutes and can detect when someone is infectious. Many are also available over the counter for at-home testing. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration notes antigen tests may not detect early COVID-19 infections the same way PCR tests can.

Medical assistant Kelly Cunningham administers a nasal swab COVID-19 test at a new free walk-up testing site at St. Tarcisius Parish in Framingham, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021. The site is open by appointment only to all Massachusetts residents.
Medical assistant Kelly Cunningham administers a nasal swab COVID-19 test at a new free walk-up testing site at St. Tarcisius Parish in Framingham, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021. The site is open by appointment only to all Massachusetts residents.

If gathering with family or friends outside the household, “That’s when the rapid test on that same day could help,” according to Dr. Felipe Barbosa, an infectious disease specialist at MetroWest Medical Center.

“Still try to avoid large gatherings,” Barbosa said during Mayor Yvonne Spicer’s “Community Hour” meeting Tuesday. “Wear your masks if you’re not with your household members. Get vaccinated; get boosted if you’re fully vaccinated.”

Does a negative test mean you’re safe to travel and visit? Context matters, according to Connors.

“A negative COVID test in a fully vaccinated person who has received a COVID booster, and who has no known COVID exposure and no symptoms, would be very reassuring for travel/meeting others,” he said.

However, in an unvaccinated and symptomatic person, a negative test would not be reassuring, Connors said. Anyone with symptoms for a short time could have a false negative and test positive a couple of days later, he added.

Where can you find a COVID test location?

You can find COVID-19 testing locations near you through the state at mass.gov/covid-19-testing.

Looking to purchase an at-home test for yourself? Major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Target, CVS and Walgreens offer several options. Popular brands include:

Abby Patkin is a multimedia journalist for the Daily News. Follow Abby on Twitter @AMPatkin. She can be reached at apatkin@wickedlocal.com.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: COVID testing in Massachusetts: What to know before you gather, travel