Coronavirus (COVID-19) Testing
Available testing, rigorous contact tracing, enhanced laboratory capacity, and data sharing are all critical parts of preventing and containing the spread of COVID-19.
Read the Testing Blueprint for Opening America and its Addendum to learn more about the role of federal, state, and local governments, as well as the private sector.
Types of Testing
There are two kinds of tests available for COVID-19:
- A viral test tells you if you currently have an infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Molecular and antigen tests are types of viral tests. Viral tests are also called diagnostic tests.
- An antibody test tells you if you previously had an infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. This type of test is also called a serological test.
How Can I Get Tested for COVID-19
The process and locations for COVID-19 testing vary from place to place. To find out how to get a no-cost test in your community, select your state below.
Find A Testing Location Near You
- If you are sick or think you have been exposed to COVID-19, contact your healthcare provider.
- If you are seeking COVID-19 testing and/or treatment, make sure you understand the patient protections against “balance billing” for COVID-19 related services.
Community-Based Testing Sites
HHS has partnered with pharmacy and retail companies to make COVID-19 testing available to more Americans in more communities across the country. COVID-19 tests are also available at health centers nationwide.
At-Home Tests
At this time, the FDA has not authorized any COVID-19 test to be completely used and processed at home. However, the FDA has issued emergency use authorizations (EUAs) for certain COVID-19 molecular diagnostic tests to be used with samples collected by a person using a home collection kit that is sent to a laboratory for processing and test reporting. In general, a healthcare provider determines whether a person can use a home collection kit as explained in each test’s EUA. Complete list of COVID-19 tests that have received FDA authorization.
Making Coronavirus (COVID-19) Tests Safe and Available
HHS continues to safely accelerate the authorizations and availability of COVID-19 tests.
- In February 2020, the Secretary of HHS declared that circumstances justified the authorization of emergency use for tests to detect and diagnose coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
- Medical countermeasures such as tests, devices, and drugs, may be used to understand and meet public health needs during emergencies.
- Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) allow public health experts to strengthen the nation’s response to public health threats by making medical countermeasures regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) available during emergencies.
- View the full list of tests that have received an Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA.
HHS is working directly with governors to develop COVID-19 testing plans that set specific targets in each jurisdiction to combat the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic. In some cases, states or territories may choose to authorize laboratories within its jurisdiction to develop and perform COVID-19 tests. More information is available in the FDA Policy for COVID-19 tests.
Learn more about the testing approval and validation process:
Expanding Access to Coronavirus (COVID-19) Testing
State, territorial, and tribal funding provides support to develop, purchase, administer, process, and analyze COVID-19 tests, conduct surveillance, trace contacts, and implement related activities.
- CDC will provide $10.25 billion to states, territories, and local jurisdictions.
- The Indian Health Service (IHS) will provide $750 million to tribal health programs.
- This funding is part of the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, signed into law by President Trump on April 24, 2020.
Health center funding supports the expansion of Health Center Program COVID-19 testing capacity including support for the purchase of personal protective equipment, procurement and administration of tests, and laboratory services.
- The Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) has awarded nearly $2 billion to combat the pandemic and expand COVID-19 testing at health centers, look-alikes (LALs), and rural communities.
- State-level data on health center COVID-19 testing capabilities and metrics are available online and find out if a Health Center testing site is open near you.
- This funding is part of the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, signed into law by President Trump on April 24, 2020.
Licensed pharmacists may order COVID-19 tests and administer them to their patients, which expands testing capabilities and makes testing more accessible for those who need it.
- The tests must be authorized by the FDA.
- This guidance is issued by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health under the Secretary’s March 17, 2020 declaration under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act.
- Guidance for Licensed Pharmacists, COVID-19 Testing, and Immunity under the PREP Act (April 8, 2020)
Rapid, point-of-care testing is a critical element of the national strategy for testing, especially to support vulnerable patients, outbreak investigations, and frontline healthcare workers.
- This test is performed at the same location as where the patient’s sample is collected and it can provide COVID-19 results in under 13 minutes.
- HHS is providing these tests to states, territories, and tribes, as well as to remote and rural populations, nursing homes, hotspot areas, and for the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS).
- FDA Letter of Authorization for ID NOW COVID-19 (March 27, 2020).
Rescission of Guidances and Other Informal Issuances Concerning Premarket Review of Laboratory Developed Tests
As part of HHS's ongoing department-wide review of regulatory flexibilities enacted since the start of COVID-19, the department has determined that the FDA will not require premarket review of laboratory developed tests absent notice-and-comment rulemaking, as opposed to through guidance documents, compliance manuals, website statements, or other informal issuances.
