An urgent care flu test at Urgent Care of Oconee gives a result in 15 minutes. We use a rapid antigen test, the most common type of flu test. According to the CDC, these tests, called rapid influenza diagnostic tests, give results in about 10 to 15 minutes.
Urgent Care of Oconee is a walk-in urgent care serving Oconee County, Georgia, with locations in Athens, Watkinsville, and Madison. You can walk in for a flu test 7 days a week, with no appointment needed. Here is how the test works, how long it takes, and when to come in.
How Long Does a Flu Test Take at Urgent Care?
A rapid flu test takes between 10 and 20 minutes to give a result, depending on the type of test. Rapid influenza diagnostic tests give results in about 10 to 15 minutes. Rapid molecular tests take 15 to 20 minutes and are more accurate.
At Urgent Care of Oconee, we use a rapid antigen flu test, and results take 15 minutes. Flu testing is part of our diagnostic testing, together with RSV and COVID testing.
Some flu tests are slower because the swab is sent to a hospital or public health testing site. Once the swab arrives, those results can take one to several hours.
Flu test types at a glance (source: CDC)
| Test type | What it looks for | Time to result | How accurate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid influenza diagnostic test (RIDT), a rapid antigen test. This is the test Urgent Care of Oconee uses. | Parts of the flu virus (antigens) | About 10 to 15 minutes | Moderate. Detects flu in about 50 to 70% of cases. |
| Rapid molecular test | The flu virus’s genetic material | 15 to 20 minutes | High. Detects flu in about 90 to 95% of cases. |
| RT-PCR and similar tests | The flu virus’s genetic material | One to several hours after the swab arrives at a hospital or public health testing site | Very high |
Every one of these tests starts the same way. A health care provider swabs the inside of your nose or the back of your throat.
When Should You Get Tested for Flu?
Get tested in the first one to two days of flu symptoms if you can. Flu antiviral drugs work best when started within 1 to 2 days after flu symptoms begin, according to the CDC, and they can shorten the time you are sick by about a day.
If you are at higher risk of serious flu complications, check with a provider promptly when flu symptoms start. People at higher risk include those with asthma, chronic lung disease, diabetes, or heart disease, and pregnant women.
Common flu symptoms are fever, cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, and tiredness. You can have the flu without a fever, and vomiting and diarrhea are more common in children. If your symptoms sound like the flu, our flu treatment starts with a visit to any of our three locations.
Can a flu test be wrong? Yes. A negative rapid flu test does not always mean you do not have flu, so your provider may still diagnose flu based on your symptoms. Rapid tests also detect flu better in children than in adults.
What Happens at a Walk-In Flu Test in Athens, Watkinsville, and Madison
A walk-in flu test at Urgent Care of Oconee starts when you check in at any of our three locations, and a provider checks your symptoms and decides if you need a swab. You can walk in during open hours, or book online before you come.
Our hours are the same at all three locations:
- Monday to Friday: 7:30am to 7:00pm
- Saturday: 9:00am to 5:30pm
- Sunday: 10:00am to 5:30pm
Where to find us:
- Athens: 2375 West Broad Street, Suite G
- Watkinsville: 2061 Experiment Station Road, Suite 505, in the Publix Shopping Center at Butler’s Crossing. Suite 505 is inside the building.
- Madison: 1690 Eatonton Road
Your provider decides whether you need a test. Not everyone with flu-like symptoms is tested, because a provider can diagnose flu from your symptoms and their clinical judgment.
Flu, COVID, or a Cold? Which Test You Need
A test is the only way to know for sure which virus you have. Flu and COVID-19 share many of the same symptoms, so you cannot tell them apart by symptoms alone.
Urgent Care of Oconee tests for flu, RSV, and COVID. Testing for both flu and COVID-19 helps you get diagnosed and treated for the specific virus you have more quickly.
Not sure if it is the flu or a cold? Our guide to flu, RSV, and COVID tests explains each one, and our page on flu, strep, and COVID-19 testing covers sore throats too.
Flu Shots Are In for the 2026-27 Season
Flu shots are in stock now at all three Urgent Care of Oconee locations, in Athens, Watkinsville, and Madison. The CDC recommends a flu vaccine every season for everyone 6 months and older, with rare exceptions. Ideally, get yours by the end of October.
It takes about two weeks after a flu shot for your body to build the antibodies that protect against flu.
If you are sick right now, get better first. People with a moderate or severe illness should wait and get vaccinated as soon as the illness has improved.
Wondering if it is too late to get a flu shot? Our guide answers that, and our vaccinations page has the details.
When to Call 911 or Go to the ER Instead
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you or your child has any emergency warning sign of flu. People with these warning signs, as listed by the CDC, need medical care right away.
Emergency warning signs in adults include:
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
- Persistent dizziness, confusion, or not waking up
- Seizures
- Not urinating
Emergency warning signs in children include:
- Fast breathing or trouble breathing
- Bluish lips or face
- Dehydration: no urine for 8 hours, dry mouth, or no tears when crying
- Fever above 104 degrees Fahrenheit that fever-reducing medicine does not control
- Any fever in a baby younger than 12 weeks
These lists do not include every warning sign. Talk to a medical provider about any other symptom that is severe or worrying.
Paying for Your Flu Test: Insurance and the UCO Membership Program
Urgent Care of Oconee accepts many insurance plans, including Medicaid, Medicare, and Tricare. Check our accepted insurance list before you come in.
If you have no insurance or limited coverage, the UCO Membership Program covers unlimited in-clinic visits all year for $49 a month per person, plus a one-time $150 registration fee. It covers adults and children, and you can use it at all three locations. All credit card payments incur a 3% surcharge.
Your Flu Testing Questions Answered
Do I need an appointment for a flu test?
No appointment is needed. Walk in at Urgent Care of Oconee in Athens, Watkinsville, or Madison, 7 days a week, or book online before you come.
Can I get a flu shot while I have flu symptoms?
Yes. Flu antiviral drugs need a prescription, and the provider at Urgent Care of Oconee can prescribe one when it is right for you.
Can a flu test be wrong?
Yes. A negative rapid flu test does not always mean you do not have flu, so your provider also looks at your symptoms.
Does Urgent Care of Oconee take insurance for flu testing?
Urgent Care of Oconee accepts many plans, including Medicaid, Medicare, and Tricare. Check the accepted insurance list, and ask your plan about your share of the cost.
Get Your Flu Test in Oconee County Today
Don’t wait for a minor issue to become a major one. Walk in today at Urgent Care of Oconee, no appointment needed, 7 days a week. We’re here for you at our Athens, Watkinsville, and Madison locations. Book Online or simply walk through the door.