Where to get tested for Covid-19 on the North Coast

As coronavirus cases in South Africa continue to rise, more and more people are concerned about whether or not they have contracted the virus.

KZN has one of the highest number of active coronavirus cases in the country with over 57 000. 

iLembe District, one of the country’s hotspots, has registered 1 484 new infections in the past week with 76 new deaths.

Overall, 259 people have died. iLembe has 17 438 confirmed cases with 14 628 recoveries.

Testing and diagnosis are critical to tracking cases and managing the pandemic.

Testing at a public facility, including a public hospital or clinic, is free.

Private testing, unless covered by medical aid, can range from R150 to R850 depending on the type of test performed. 

Who should be tested? 

Get tested if you have classic Covid-19 symptoms, including fever, dry cough, tiredness or loss of taste or smell, symptoms of a respiratory illness or have been in close contact with a confirmed Covid-19 case (if this occurred 2 days before to 10 days after the contact person’s symptoms began). 

You are considered to have been in close contact if you were cooped up in a small space or within 1.5 metres of an infected person for 15 minutes or more without wearing a mask.

Tests conducted on asymptomatic patients may be negative in the early days following contact with an infected person and does not exclude Covid-19 infection. 

National guidelines are for asymptomatic patients to self-isolate for 10 days after contact with a Covid-19 infected patient, but if the test is negative 7 days after contact, isolation is no longer needed.

If you test positive you must self-isolate for a minimum of 10 days.

Contact the people you have recently come into close contact with and notify them of the risk of transmission. 

There are 2 Covid-19 tests used in SA:

1. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test remains the gold standard for testing and is highly accurate.

A swab is used to get specimens from the back of the throat or nasal passage.

Results can take anywhere between 15 hours to 2 weeks depending on whether the test is conducted at a private or public facility. 

2. The rapid antigen test was recently approved by WHO.

This test is more affordable, easier to use and can provide answers in a matter of minutes.

Rapid antigen testing reveals if a person is currently infected with a pathogen such as the Covid-19 virus.

Once the infection has gone, the antigen disappears.

The antigen test is recommended as a high performing test for individuals with symptoms, high-risk populations, healthcare workers or essential workers and where PCR tests are not available or where turnaround time for PCR results are prolonged.

The Anti-body serum test reveals if a person has already been exposed to an infection, by detecting antibodies in their blood or serum.

Antibody tests are not usually used to diagnose current infection as it takes the body some time to produce antibodies.

This test can help to estimate how many people have already been infected with Covid-19 which can be important in assessing herd immunity. 

Free public testing (no referral required):

• Ballito, Shakakraal and Groutville clinics.

• Tongaat indoor sports stadium: Free antigen test. Results within 30 minutes, depending on numbers. 

Private testing sites in KwaDukuza: 

• All Saints Catholic Church: 61 Townsend Road, Ballito. Open weekdays 9am – 3pm and Saturday 9am – 12pm. 

Cost: R700.

• Alberlito Hospital: Upper parking lot, Kirsty Close, Ballito. Drive through site only, no appointment required. Open weekdays 8.30am – 4pm. Cost R850.

• Ballito Grace Family Church, R102 Compensation, Ballito. Drive through site. Open weekdays 8am – 4pm and Saturday 8am – 1pm. Cost R850.

• The Well: Upper Parking lot, corner Kirsty Close and Albertina Road, Ballito. Open weekdays 8am – 5pm and Saturday 8am – 1pm. Contact 032 946 650. 
Cost R850.

• Ashton Sport Campus: Entrance through Garlick/Douglas Crowe behind Hirsch’s. Open weekdays 7.30am – 5.30pm and weekends and public holidays 9.30am – 4.30pm. No appointment required. Cost R850.

• Clicks Wellness Clinic offers the anti-body serum test at Ballito Junction, 39 Leonora Drive. Open weekdays 9am to 5pm. Book through the Clicks website or clinic.  Cost: R150. Results can be expected within 15 minutes. 

• Dischem Ballito offers the anti-body serum test. Cost: R380. Results 3 to 5 working days. Book through their website or the clinic.

• KPH laboratory: Corner Thornhill Farm, Theunissan Road, Newton, KwaDukuza. Walk through testing site, no appointment required. Open weekdays 8am – 5pm and Saturday 8am – 1pm.  Cost R850. 

• KwaDukuza Depot: Outside OK Mall parking lot, Chief Albert Luthuli Street, KwaDukuza. Walk through testing site, no appointment required. Open weekdays 8am – 5pm, Saturday 8am – 1pm. Cost R850. 

• Victoria Hospital: 35 High St, Gandhinagar, Tongaat. Testing site outside hospital. By appointment only. Open weekdays 8am – 4.30pm. Contact 032 438 3800. Cost R850. 

If you need to find a testing facility in your area, call the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) at 0800 029 999.