COVID-19 Testing
When to Get Tested
Here’s when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (the CDC) says you should consider getting a COVID-19 test:
- If you have symptoms, test immediately.
- If you were exposed to COVID-19 and do not have symptoms, wait at least 5 full days after your exposure before testing unless you develop symptoms. If you test too early, you may be more likely to get an inaccurate result.
- If you are in certain high-risk settings, you may need to test as part of a screening testing program.
- Consider testing before contact with someone at high risk for severe COVID-19, especially if you are in an area with a medium or high COVID-19 Community Level.
Where to Get a Test
Visit covidtests.gov to stay up to date on all the latest information regarding COVID-19 testing.
You can take a COVID-19 test at home or at a testing site. Your health care provider can help you decide which type of test is right for you.
At-Home Tests
At-home rapid antigen tests are available for sale at local pharmacies and retailers such as CVS, Walgreens, Target and many grocery store pharmacies.
As of September 27, 2024:
- The federal government will mail four (4) free at-home tests to your household. Order your tests at covidtests.gov.
- The FDA has extended expiration dates for some COVID-19 tests, giving them a longer shelf life. To check for an extended expiration date, visit the FDA webpage on at-home tests, which indicates the brands that have an extended date, and a PDF for each test with new expiration dates.
- Most health insurance does not currently cover the cost of at-home COVID-19 tests, though they may cover COVID-19 tests ordered by a doctor. Check with your insurer.
COVID-19 Testing Sites
There are some sites in the community offering no-cost COVID-19 testing, including many local pharmacies and labs. These tests are ordered by a doctor, and the sites bill your health insurance company for the test. Find locations that offer these types of COVID-19 tests near you.
Test Results
If I am tested for COVID-19 at UMass Memorial Health, how can I access my digital COVID-19 test results?
You can access your digital COVID-19 test results through the MyChart patient portal or on the MyChart app or contact your ordering provider.
What if I test positive for COVID-19?
A positive COVID-19 test means the virus was detected and you have or recently had an infection.
- Take steps to prevent spreading COVID-19.
- Monitor your symptoms. If you have any emergency warning signs, seek emergency care immediately.
- Seek health care right away for treatment if you have risk factors for severe illness. Treatment may be an option to make your symptoms less severe and shorten the time you are sick. Treatment needs to be started within a few days of when your symptoms begin.
What does it mean if I have a negative COVID-19 test result?
A negative test result means that you probably were not infected with COVID-19 at the time your sample was collected. You should continue taking steps to protect yourself from COVID-19, including wearing a mask, maintaining social distancing and getting vaccinated. If you test early, you may not yet have enough virus in your body to test positive, so consider retesting later.
To be confident you do not have COVID-19, the FDA recommends two negative at-home antigen tests for individuals with symptoms or three at-home antigen tests for those without symptoms, performed 48 hours apart.
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