Point-of-Care Testing in Fargo, ND: Fast, In-Office Results While You Wait
As a Direct Primary Care practice, Resurgent Health is led by Dr. Kristine Martens, DO, a board-certified Family Medicine physician who has practiced in Fargo since 2013, alongside Aly Dahl, PA-C. Because our patients are members instead of insurance visits, point-of-care tests are included at true wholesale cost during your appointment, with no surprise billing after the fact.
Table of Contents
When Waiting on Point-of-Care Testing Results Delays Care
Understanding Same-Visit Diagnostics
Traditional primary care often means being sent to an outside lab, waiting one to three days for a call, then scheduling another visit or pharmacy pickup. If your child spikes a fever on Friday afternoon or you feel a UTI coming on before a weekend trip, that delay matters. Many families end up at urgent care or the ER simply because they cannot get answers fast enough. The result is more time missed from work, more copays, and more anxiety about what is actually going on.
Point-of-care testing changes that pattern. Instead of a separate lab visit, samples are collected and analyzed right here at our Fargo clinic during your appointment. Rapid strep, flu A and B, RSV, urinalysis, glucose, and other tests return results in about 5 to 15 minutes. Dr. Martens or Aly can review the result with you, explain what it means, and if treatment is warranted, send a prescription to your pharmacy before you even leave the office.
What Is Point-of-Care Testing And How It Works
Point-of-care testing (POCT) is diagnostic testing performed at or near the site of care rather than sent to a centralized lab. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes, these devices use small sample volumes and produce clinically actionable results within minutes, so your provider can diagnose and treat in a single visit.
Most POCT relies on immunoassay strips or small benchtop analyzers. A rapid strep swab detects Group A Streptococcus antigen in about five minutes; a urinalysis dipstick reads ten parameters in about two. After Dr. Martens or Aly evaluates your symptoms, we collect the sample, run it on our in-office analyzer, and review the result with you during the same appointment - with no lab callback and no separate trip.
Treatment Timeline:
First Signs:
2 - 5 minutes (results on most rapid tests)
Full Effect:
One visit (result and plan same appointment)
Treatment Time:
5 - 15 minutes (sample to answer)
Recovery:
None (resume normal activity immediately)
Point-of-Care Testing Areas We Cover
Benefits of Point-of-Care Testing
We provide fast, in-office diagnostic testing that delivers accurate results within minutes, helping you receive answers and personalized treatment during the same appointment
Results
Same-Visit Diagnosis & Treatment
Pricing
True cost as part of your DPC membership
Lab Trip
No separate lab trip or multi-day wait
Treatment
Antibiotics, antivirals prescribed when needed
Costs
You see the price up front, no surprise bills weeks later
Point-of-Care Testing vs. Alternatives
Compare Your Options
| Setting | Result Time | Cost Model | Provider Continuity | Same-Day Treatment | Best For | Trade-Offs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPC In-Office POCT at Resurgent Health | 5-15 minutes | Wholesale, included with membership | Your own provider | Yes | Members with acute or routine needs | Requires DPC membership |
| Urgent Care Rapid Tests | 15-60 minutes | Copay plus visit fee, often $150-$300 | New provider each visit | Yes | One-off after-hours needs | Higher cost, no ongoing relationship |
| Hospital or Outpatient Lab | 1-3 days | Insurance billing, variable copay | Depends on referring provider | No | Complex or send-out testing | Delay and separate visit required |
| At-Home Test Kits | 10-30 minutes | $10-$50 per test out of pocket | None | No | Screening only | No provider interpretation or prescription |
Who Is a Good Candidate for Point-of-Care Testing?
Point-of-care testing is most useful for members experiencing acute symptoms that need a same-day answer, as well as for routine monitoring of chronic conditions like diabetes and warfarin therapy. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, POCT in primary care can shorten time to diagnosis and improve antibiotic stewardship for common infections.
Ideal Candidates for Point-of-Care Testing
- Members with sore throat, fever, or respiratory symptoms wanting a same-day answer
- Suspected UTI needing rapid urinalysis, or diabetes glucose and A1c checks
- Patients on warfarin needing periodic INR checks close to home
Who Should Wait or Ask About Other Testing
- Anyone needing complex send-out labs, cultures, or full metabolic panels
- Severe symptoms requiring emergency evaluation (call 911 or the ER)
- Cases needing imaging or specialty diagnostics beyond primary care
Honest Expectations About Results
- You get a fast, same-visit answer across a focused set of tests
- Some results still need a confirmatory lab for the full picture
- For chronic monitoring, one reading is a point within your trend
If you have a life-threatening symptom, do not wait for an office visit. Call 911 or go directly to the emergency department. For routine and acute primary care needs, Dr. Martens or Aly can help determine whether rapid in-office testing or a send-out lab is the right fit through our lab work service.
What Happens During Point-of-Care Testing
Step-by-Step Process
Check-In
Sample Collection
Analyzer Processing
Provider Review
Treatment Discussion
Risks and Considerations
What to Know
Common Side Effects of Point-of-Care Testing
Point-of-care testing itself is very low risk. Throat and nasal swabs may cause a brief gag reflex or mild discomfort that resolves within seconds. Fingersticks cause a small pinch and rarely leave a bruise that typically fades within 24 to 48 hours. Urine collection has no physical side effects.
Rare Complications
Very rarely, a fingerstick site may become mildly irritated or, in patients on blood thinners, bruise slightly more. Any bleeding stops within a minute or two with light pressure. Serious complications from POCT sample collection are extremely uncommon.
Accuracy and Result Considerations
All diagnostic tests have some rate of false-negative and false-positive results. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, rapid tests are cleared based on defined sensitivity and specificity ranges, and clinical context always guides interpretation. Rapid strep tests are highly specific but may miss a small percentage of true infections, which is why Kristine or Aly considers your symptoms alongside the result. When needed, a confirmatory send-out lab is ordered and reviewed as soon as the outside lab reports back.
Point-of-Care Testing Cost in Fargo
Pricing and Payment Options
At Resurgent Health, point-of-care testing is included in your visit at true wholesale cost as part of your Direct Primary Care membership. Instead of insurance copays, lab bills, and facility fees, members pay a flat monthly membership and then the direct cost of any test kits used during a visit. Most rapid tests fall in the $3 to $15 range at wholesale, well below typical retail lab pricing.
What Affects Your Cost
- Which specific test is ordered (a urine dipstick costs less than a rapid flu/RSV panel)
- Whether one test or a panel of tests is needed for your symptoms
- Whether any samples need to be sent to an outside reference lab
Flexible Payment Options
Membership at Resurgent Health is designed to be predictable and transparent:
- Monthly Membership - Flat monthly fee covers your visits with Kristine or Aly
- Wholesale POCT Pricing - Rapid tests billed at direct cost during your visit, not marked up
- No Surprise Billing - You see the cost up front, before the sample is collected
For more complex send-out testing, see our lab work service page for full wholesale pricing and details.
Why Choose Resurgent Health for Point-of-Care Testing in Fargo
Dr. Kristine Martens, DO brings more than a decade of full-scope Family Medicine practice in Fargo, including helping develop the Fargo Family Medicine Residency in 2017, to every point-of-care visit. Together with Aly Dahl, PA-C, she reviews each rapid result with you personally, not through a portal message.
Board-Certified Physician
Dr. Martens is a board-certified Family Medicine DO practicing in Fargo since 2013
Wholesale Test Pricing
POCT included at true cost as part of your DPC membership, not marked up
Same-Day Access
Members typically get in the same day or next day for acute concerns
Unhurried Visits
Real time with your provider to explain the result and plan next steps
Direct Communication
Reach your provider by phone, text, or secure messaging without waiting weeks for answers
Personalized Care Plans
Related Services in Fargo, ND
Round out your visit with these member services at Resurgent Health.
In-Office Procedures
Minor procedures performed in-clinic during your DPC visit, with supplies at wholesale cost and no separate copay.
- DPC members with a minor skin, joint, ear, or surgical concern
- Patients who want continuity with their own primary care doctor
- Generally stable health with no active infection at the site
Therapeutic Injections
Vitamin and anti-inflammatory injections at wholesale cost
- Active DPC members with a confirmed B12 or vitamin D deficiency
- Patients with a localized joint flare, trigger point, or trigger finger
- Members needing short-term relief while pursuing longer-term care
Lab Work & Blood Tests
Comprehensive lab panels at direct-to-patient wholesale pricing for DPC members.
- Adults establishing baseline preventive screening (CBC, CMP, lipid, A1C)
- Members monitoring diabetes, thyroid disease, or high cholesterol
- Patients frustrated by unpredictable lab bills or high deductibles
Frequently Asked Questions About Point-of-Care Testing
How fast are point-of-care test results at Resurgent Health?
Most rapid tests return results in 5 to 15 minutes during your visit. Kristine or Aly reviews the result with you and, if needed, sends a prescription before you leave the office.
Do I need insurance to get tested here?
No. Resurgent Health is a Direct Primary Care membership. You do not use insurance for the visit or tests. Members pay a flat monthly fee and wholesale prices for any POCT used.
Which point-of-care tests do you offer?
We offer rapid strep, flu A/B, RSV, COVID-19 antigen, urinalysis, urine pregnancy, fingerstick glucose, hemoglobin A1c, rapid mono, and INR monitoring for members on warfarin, among others.
Can I combine point-of-care testing with other services?
Yes. Rapid tests are often ordered during acute visits or added to routine visits alongside our in-office procedures, therapeutic injections, or ongoing lab work. Kristine or Aly can coordinate everything in one appointment.
Do you test for sexually transmitted infections?
STD testing is not offered as part of our point-of-care panel at this time. We can refer members to appropriate community resources when that testing is needed.
How accurate are rapid point-of-care tests?
FDA-cleared rapid tests are highly reliable, but no test is perfect. Kristine or Aly interprets each result in the context of your symptoms and, when needed, orders a confirmatory send-out lab.
Do I need to fast before a point-of-care test?
Most POCT does not require fasting. For a fasting glucose or A1c reading, we may ask you to avoid eating for 8 hours; otherwise no prep is needed.
Can non-members get point-of-care tests?
Point-of-care testing at wholesale cost is a benefit of the Resurgent Health DPC membership. Joining is straightforward and gives you same-day access to rapid tests and provider care.
Contact Us Today
Send us a message for more information - DPC membership, a discovery call, or any other service you'd like to ask about.
References
- PubMed (PMID: 27374000) - Cochrane review of rapid antigen detection tests for group A streptococcus in children with pharyngitis, describing sensitivity and specificity in outpatient practice.
- PubMed (PMID: 28869986) - Systematic review and meta-analysis in Annals of Internal Medicine comparing rapid influenza diagnostic tests with reverse transcriptase PCR.
- PubMed (PMID: 28520858) - Systematic review of rapid tests for influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, and other respiratory viruses in primary care settings.
- PubMed (PMID: 36250577) - Cochrane review of biomarkers as point-of-care tests to guide antibiotic prescribing for acute respiratory infections in primary care.
- PubMed (PMID: 34565335) - Systematic review and meta-analysis of biomarkers, including urine dipstick parameters, for diagnosing urinary tract infections in primary care.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Overview of point-of-care testing quality standards and regulatory framework in United States primary care.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration - Regulatory guidance and clearance information for in vitro diagnostic point-of-care devices.