At home COVID tests are flying off the shelves

Where to get COVID tested in Lincoln

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN)- At home COVID tests are flying off the shelves, as many prepare to gather or travel this holiday season.

“Right now we are really struggling to get in any single-use or double use COVID tests to sell over the counter,” said Steve Osenbaugh the owner of Relycare.

Relycare Pharmacy in Lincoln is getting creative to make sure it has tests available for its customers.

“Well to combat that shortage, what we are doing right now is we are finding a supplier that has it in a bulk supply like a box of 25, then we are breaking that down for people into use of ones,” said Osenbaugh.

Their supplier has limited them to about one box or so every other day.  To make sure customers don’t stockpile these tests, there is a restriction to how many can be purchased at once.

“Probably not selling more than seven or eight of them at a time for most people,” said Osenbaugh.

Pharmacies are still seeing a steady flow of individuals receiving their first COVID dose, as well as their boosters.

“We’re still the booster market, vaccinations are still strong. We are doing that on a daily basis and we’ve had a pretty high demand for that,” said Osenbaugh.

For individuals with symptoms, Bryan offers COVID-19 testing at our three Bryan Urgent Care locations. We do not use an appointment system. It’s walk-up, first come, first serve. Bryan Urgent Care locations are open 8 am – 8 pm, seven days a week. Individuals must be exhibiting symptoms of COVID to be tested.  Rapid testing is available.  Rapid test results are available within 15 minutes.  PCR testing is also available.  Those results are being returned in about 3-5 days.

For individuals without symptoms, COVID-19 testing is also available through our On-Demand Lab at our Pine Lake Campus, Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Walk-in testing is available at three CHI Health priority care locations: Antelope Creek, 2510 S. 40th St., Suite 100; Southwest, 1240 Aries Drive; and Stevens Creek, 1601 N. 86th St. For drive up testing, virtual quick care is available 24/7 at CHIHealth.com to chat with a provider and schedule a testing appointment. Patients can also get tested by seeing their primary care provider at a CHI Health Clinic. Our full list of clinics is also available on CHIHealth.com.

• Nomi Health: The Lincoln NOMI testing site will be closed December 24 and 25. Drive-thru testing is available at the parking lot, North of the old Sears building, Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Appointments are not required, but people are encouraged to preregister by visiting testing.nomihealth.com/signup/ne.
• Local pharmacies including CVS, HyVee and Walgreens, health care provider offices and urgent care clinics also offer testing. Those uninsured or underinsured can call the LLCHD COVID-19 hotline at 402-441-8006 to be connected to testing resources.