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Coronavirus Testing

Pre-registration for Public Testing

It’s best to get testing through your provider, but if you need to use public testing, you can save time in line by visiting coronavirus.dc.gov/register to create a profile from your smartphone, tablet, or computer.

District of Columbia COVID-19 Testing Sites

Why are individuals encouraged to get tested through their health care provider?

Individuals are encouraged to get tested through their own health care provider so that when the test results come back the patient is already connected to the health care they need. If an individual needs a COVID-19 test and they do not have a provider, there are a number of options to obtain a test and a provider. If an individual needs a test and their provider is unable to give them a test, that individual should come to one of the District’s walk-up or drive-thru sites.

Providers that offer COVID-19 Testing

Site Appointments
Community of Hope Walk-in testing, no appointment needed. For more information, call (202) 787-1979 
GW University Medical System

For an appointment, call (202) 741-2765 
All Care Family Medicine & Urgent Care

For an appointment, call (202) 787-1979
Family and Medical Counseling Service

For more information, call (202) 889-7900. 
Mary’s Center

For an appointment, call 1-844-796-2797 
Unity Health Care

For an appointment, call (202) 469-4699
Whitman-Walker Health

For an appointment, call (202) 745-7000
Medstar Health For an appointment, visit MedStarhealth.org/eVisit. A MedStar Health provider referral or MedStar eVisit referral is required prior to testing at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, 9am-5pm 7 days per week.
Sibley Memorial Hospital

For an appointment, call 443-997-9537
Howard University Hospital

For an appointment, call (202) 865-2119
Bread for the City

For more information, call (202) 265-2400

Elaine Ellis Center of Health

 For an appointment, call (202) 803-2340
Walgreens (1401 Rhode Island Ave., NE)

This Walgreens location is offering no-cost COVID tests to those 18 years and older, 7 days per week, from 9 am to 5 pm (weather pending).
Contact the store for specific details.
District Urgent Care (4903 Georgia Avenue, NW) Providers at this location handle COVID complaints via telemedicine and perform drive thru testing Monday- Saturday 11 am - 4 pm.
Additional Member Testing Sites  
One Medical

For an appointment, call (202) 695-7576
Kaiser Permanente

For an appointment, call (202) 346-3000

Can I test at home?

Provider How it works
Ready Responders

For at-home, on-demand care and COVID testing, call (202) 602-0814. Ready comes to your home, is open 8am to 8pm, seven days per week, and serves all 8 Wards. Ready is currently offering rapid antigen testing only, with results in 15 minutes. If you require a PCR test, please utilize another testing option.
Pixel by LabCorp

Home test kits are available for no out of pocket costs to be delivered to your door: https://www.pixel.labcorp.com/at-home-test-kits/covid-19-test
Safeway Pharmacy

How it works: Safeway Pharmacies are now offering quick and easy COVID-19 at home saliva tests through Phosphorus Diagnostics at scheduletest.com

Need a Test

Need a Test? Get a Test. Then Quarantine.

DC residents, 3 years of age and older, experiencing any COVID-19 symptom (fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, congestion, body aches, chills, runny nose) or with known exposure to COVID-19 should get a COVID-19 test. You DO NOT need a doctor's note for any of the walk-in sites. Testing and quarantine go together. While you wait for your results, protect our community by staying home.

Save Time in the Line

Before you go, register to save time in line:

You do not need a doctor's note or an appointment for any of the District’s walk-up testing sites. But to save time in line, first visit coronavirus.dc.gov/register to create a profile from your smartphone, tablet or computer.

Insurance

Beginning Monday, November 23, individuals who have health insurance will be asked to provide their insurance information when registering for a test at a public site. Residents will continue to receive testing at no cost, and no one will be charged a copay for testing. Individuals without insurance will continue to receive free testing. No one will be turned away or charged.

DC Contact Trace Force

Learn more on what to expect if you get the call: 

Free Public Testing Sites: December 13-19

**NOTICE** All Firehouse testing locations will be closed today, December 16, 2020 due to weather conditions.

Subject to change due to inclement weather. 

Site Address Time  Appointment Needed?
Anacostia: Walk-up
 2241 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE

Monday, Wednesday, Friday 8:30am - 1pm
 

 No, but save time in line and pre-register at coronavirus.dc.gov/register.
Anacostia: Drive thru
 2241 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE Monday, Wednesday, Friday 8:30am - 1pm
 		 No, but save time in line and pre-register at coronavirus.dc.gov/register.
UDC-CC Bertie Backus Campus: Walk-up
 5171 South Dakota Avenue, NE Tuesday, Thursday 8:30am - 1pm No, but save time in line and pre-register at coronavirus.dc.gov/register.
UDC-CC Bertie Backus Campus: Drive thru
 5171 South Dakota Avenue, NE Tuesday, Thursday 8:30am - 1pm No, but save time in line and pre-register at coronavirus.dc.gov/register.
Judiciary Square: Walk-up
 F Street, NW between 4th & 5th Streets, NW

Monday through Friday 8:30am - 1pm

 No, but save time in line and pre-register at coronavirus.dc.gov/register.
Rosedale Recreation Center: Walk-Up*
 1701 Gales Street, NE Tuesday, Dec. 15
12pm - 4pm		 No, but save time in line and pre-register at coronavirus.dc.gov/register.
Fort Stanton Recreation Center: Walk-Up*
 1812 Erie Street, SE Wednesday, Dec. 16
12pm - 4pm		 No, but save time in line and pre-register at coronavirus.dc.gov/register.
Edgewood Recreation Center: Walk-Up*
 300 Evarts St., NE Thursday, Dec. 17
12pm - 4pm		 No, but save time in line and pre-register at coronavirus.dc.gov/register.
Takoma Aquatic Center: Walk-Up*
 300 Van Buren Street, NW Friday, Dec. 18
12pm - 4pm		 No, but save time in line and pre-register at coronavirus.dc.gov/register.
Remnant Christian Center: Walk-Up*
 4901 Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue NE Saturday, Dec. 19
12pm - 4pm		 No, but save time in line and pre-register at coronavirus.dc.gov/register.

Testing at DC Firehouses and Geico Garage @ Nationals Park - All Walk-up! No Appointment Needed!

Subject to change due to inclement weather. All sites closed on Thursday, November 26, 2020 in observance of Thanksgiving Holiday.

Site Address Time Appointment Needed?
Geico Garage @ Nationals Park S. Capitol St., SE & N St., SE Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, 2:30pm - 7:30pm No, but save time in line and pre-register at coronavirus.dc.gov/register.

FEMS Engine 4

 2531 Sherman Avenue, NW
Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 2:30pm - 7:30pm
 No, but save time in line and pre-register at coronavirus.dc.gov/register.

FEMS Engine 11

 3420 14th Street, NW Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 2:30pm - 7:30pm No, but save time in line and pre-register at coronavirus.dc.gov/register.

FEMS Engine 24

 5101 Georgia Avenue, NW Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 2:30pm - 7:30pm No, but save time in line and pre-register at coronavirus.dc.gov/register.

FEMS Engine 31

 4930 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 2:30pm - 7:30pm
 No, but save time in line and pre-register at coronavirus.dc.gov/register.

FEMS Engine 8

 1520 C Street, SE
Tuesday, Thursday 2:30pm - 7:30pm
Saturday 12pm - 4pm
 No, but save time in line and pre-register at coronavirus.dc.gov/register.

FEMS Engine 10

 1342 Florida Avenue, NE
Tuesday, Thursday 2:30pm - 7:30pm;
Saturday 12pm - 4pm
 No, but save time in line and pre-register at coronavirus.dc.gov/register.

FEMS Engine 30

 50 49th Street, NE
Tuesday, Thursday 2:30pm - 7:30pm;
Saturday 12pm - 4pm
 No, but save time in line and pre-register at coronavirus.dc.gov/register.

FEMS Engine 33

 101 Atlantic Street, SE Tuesday, Thursday 2:30pm - 7:30pm; Saturday 12pm - 4pm

 

 No, but save time in line and pre-register at coronavirus.dc.gov/register.

 

What Do I Need to Do? What Should I Bring?

Do I need an appointment?

Appointments are no longer needed for any of the District’s walk-up or drive-up sites. However, self-registration is strongly encouraged. Visit coronavirus.dc.gov/register to create a profile from your smartphone, tablet, or computer. Simply follow the self-registration guidance and your information is easily and quickly available to the site staff upon your arrival. While not required, it strongly recommended that you create a profile before visiting a drive-up site. This is for both safety and efficiency.

Self-Registration

Save time in line. Visit coronavirus.dc.gov/register to create a profile from your smartphone, tablet, or computer. When you arrive at any testing location, the staff there will be able to look you up by your name and date of birth. If you were unable to create you profile in advance, staff will assist you on-site by helping you access the link on your smartphone; or entering your information into a site-managed device.

If I self-register which site should I go to?

Once you have created a profile, you can go to any of the following DC Hosted sites to complete the testing process

  • Judiciary Square
  • Anacostia
  • UDC-BB
  • FEMS Sites
  • CORE pop-up sites

Self-registration does not set you up for a test at a private provider or clinic.

When you arrive at a site:

Self-registration does not guarantee your spot in line at a specific location, but simply expedites the process once you arrive. It also does not reserve a test kit for you Each site has a limited number of kits allocated for the day, and occasionally that number is reached. Site staff work very hard to communicate to those in line when site capacity is going to be reached.

What is the process for COVID-19 testing?

You will receive a nasal swab. During this test you may feel some discomfort, including nose irritation or minor bleeding. All are normal.

What should I do while I wait to be swabbed?

Walk-up testing: If you are walking, please remain 6 feet from other individuals while you wait and cover your cough and sneeze.

Drive-thru testing: Stay in your car at all times and keep your windows rolled up, unless asked to roll your window down for testing.

When will my results be ready?

After testing, an individual will learn results within 5-7 days. After the test, the individual will receive a letter with the information on how to receive their results.

How will I receive my results?

For patient privacy, results are NOT be available via phone. After the test, the individual will receive a letter with the information on how to receive their results.

What should you do while you wait for results?

  • Because your results are unknown immediately after testing, it’s critical you stay home. Staying home until your results are known helps stop potential spread in our community.
  • Do not go to work or spend time in public places. Work from home if you can. Do not go to restaurants to pick-up or carry out food, avoid visits to essential businesses, etc.
  • Separate yourself from other people and pets in your home. Stay in a specific room and if possible, a designated bathroom away from others in your home.
  • Wear a facemask/covering when around other people or pets, at home and outside.
  • Wash your hands, multiple times a day, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  • Avoid sharing household items like dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, and bedding.
  • Maintaining your mental health while you wait is important. Certified clinicians are available 24/7 through the DC Department of Behavioral Health’s mental health hotline: 1-888-793-4357.

Why are individuals encouraged to get tested through their health care provider?

While there are many free testing sites across DC, including the District’s walk-up and drive-thru sites, individuals are encouraged to get tested through their own health care provider so that when the test results come back, the patient is already connected to health care. However, if an individual needs a COVID-19 test and their health care provider is unable to provide a test, that individual should come to one on the District’s walk-up or drive-thru sites.

If your symptoms worsen, please seek prompt medical attention. Call 911 if you have a medical emergency such as difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion or inability to arouse, bluish lips or face