COVID Testing Near Me: Rapid Test Now Offered at Brooklyn Park Site
COVID Testing Near Me? Starlite Center Covid Testing offers rapid tests in Brooklyn Park
People who want to get a rapid COVID-19 test can now get one at the Brooklyn Park Starlite Center site.
Friday was the first day the Brooklyn Park location at 8085 Brooklyn Boulevard began offering the tests. It’s among seven new rapid sites launched by the Minnesota Department of Health.
Rapid tests, also known as antigen tests, are done with a nasal swab and produce results as quickly as 15 to 30 minutes. The tests are about 80 to 90 percent accurate.
Officials say the Brooklyn Park site is heavily used, so it made sense to offer the rapid testing option. The site also offers saliva PCR testing, which usually take one to two days for results. PCR testing, while not as quick, remains the most accurate for detecting a coronavirus infection.
Drivers wait to get checked for COVID-19 testing in Brooklyn Park.
Demand increases for COVID-19 tests
Derrick Weinzelt drove from Buffalo to get his children tested at the Brooklyn Park testing site.
“They’ve had the symptoms, their mom caught COVID, positive since they had symptoms first, we need to them checked,” he said.
Health experts say the demand for COVID-19 tests has increased over the past few months because of the highly contagious delta variant. In addition, families are trying to navigate daycare, school and work, which makes the rapid testing option appealing.
Brent and Nicole Schoonover came from Golden Valley to get her two girls checked.
“With them not being vaccinated yet cause they’re not old enough, we really want to make sure we’re okay and safe and not spreading anything,” said Nicole Schoonover.
“We really have some events going on this weekend. We have Halloween coming up, and we just sort of wanted to get the quick answers,” said Brent Schoonover.
People are asked to call to schedule an appointment or sign up online. The COVID-19 tests are free, but people will be asked for insurance information to help the state recoup costs.
Brooklyn Park Testing Site
- Starlite Center, 8085 Brooklyn Blvd (former Office Max building next to the Panda Garden Buffet, just east of Jolly Lane)
- Saliva and Rapid testing
- 7 days a week
- Weekdays: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
- Weekends: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
To schedule an appointment: mncovidtestingappt.as.me
Brooklyn Park’s Starlite Center COVID-19 Testing Site Among Busiest in State
Many people are adding COVID-19 testing to their last-minute holiday to-do list as coronavirus cases continue to rise in Minnesota and across the country. Monday, the Minnesota Department of Health reported almost 3,400 new cases.
The Brooklyn Park Starlite Center is one of the busiest testing locations in the state. Minnesota Department of Health officials ask people to pack their patience when they get tested in Brooklyn Park because the lines are sometimes lengthy with waits of more than an hour.
“We’ve got some people coming over, and we’ve had our booster and everything but, we don’t want to give it to somebody else if we do possibly have it,” said Wayne Clausen, who visited the testing site Monday.
The Brooklyn Park COVID-19 testing location offers free saliva and rapid COVID-19 tests. People can get their results as quickly as 15 minutes with the rapid version.
“We just got back from Arizona after eight days, and we want to make sure that we’re safe around our family and friends,” said Debra Gunnes, who also visited the site.
Health experts ask the public to get vaccinated, get tested and wear face protection while getting together for the holidays. Meanwhile, Minnesota Department of Health officials ask the public not to go to the ER to get tested unless the person needs to be hospitalized.
Brooklyn Park Starlite Center COVID-19 testing site
Also See: Local Hospitals At Full Capacity Due to Flu, COVID-19
Testing to Began Oct. 22 at Brooklyn Park Community Site
Governor Tim Walz announced Wednesday an expansion of COVID-19 testing that will impact Brooklyn Park and surrounding suburbs.
The testing site at Starlite Center, 8085 Brooklyn Boulevard, currently does PCR saliva testing. Starting Friday, it will also offer rapid tests, also known as antigen tests.
Rapid tests are done with a nasal swab and produce results more quickly than other tests. For people who have COVID-19 with symptoms, rapid or antigen tests are around 80 to 90 percent accurate. PCR tests are considered the most accurate for detecting an active COVID-19 infection.
Testing is recommended for anyone showing symptoms of a coronavirus infection. It’s also recommended weekly for unvaccinated youth who participate in close-contact indoor sports, such as basketball, wrestling and volleyball.
Testing at community sites is free, but participants with insurance are asked for that information to help the state recoup the costs.
Brooklyn Park is one of several northwest suburbs that have seen higher case rates compared to Hennepin County overall.
Starlite Center in Brooklyn Park, where community COVID-19 testing takes place.
Also see: MDH Adds Two Local Elementary Schools to List Reporting 5+ COVID Cases
