COVID-19 Testing
- HOW TO USE AT-HOME TESTS: Find where to get at-home tests in Maricopa County and instructions on how to use them on our At-Home Test page.
- TESTING FOR UNINSURED: Free COVID-19 diagnostic testing is available to anyone, regardless of insurance status, at Maricopa County testing events featured in our community calendar. Community Health Centers may also offer free or low-cost testing to the uninsured.
Some things to know and help you find testing:
- The “County Testing Events” section lists free testing events (regardless of insurance status) that Maricopa County is organizing in the community.
- "Other Testing Providers" lists providers not affiliated with Maricopa County. These sites may bill your insurance or charge a fee for testing services. Types of testing offered and costs are determined by each provider. Call the provider ahead if you are unsure about any costs.
- For any testing site, please view vendor website ahead for most current information.
Maricopa County works with trusted partners to provide testing in communities around the valley to add to the testing options already put in place by the state of Arizona, cities, community health centers, pharmacies and other providers. We are continuing to work with vendors to make many kinds of testing more available (drive-up, walk-up, at-home, and more).
https://www.maricopa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/61859/106-After_Testing_Flier_English-and-Spanish https://www.maricopa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/61859/106-After_Testing_Flier_English-and-Spanish https://www.maricopa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/61859/106-After_Testing_Flier_English-and-SpaniView the CDC website for what to do while you're waiting on test results or if you test positive for COVID-19.
Have questions? Maricopa CARES can help! Call our Community Support Team at 602-506-6767
Community Testing Events
Events below are organized in coordination with Maricopa County Department of Public Health. These events provide free diagnostic tests for active COVID-19 infection to anyone, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. Please view vendor website ahead for most current information or call our CARES Team Monday-Friday from 8 am-5 pm for assistance in making an appointment at 602-506-6767.
Other COVID-19 Testing Providers
Following are some additional links to providers offering COVID-19 testing in Maricopa County. These providers are not affiliated with Maricopa County Department of Public Health and operate independently. Please see provider websites for information about the types of COVID-19 testing offered (i.e., PCR, rapid antigen, antibody), any associated costs for testing, appointment availability, and other details. If you are insured, check with your provider ahead to understand your coverage for types of COVID-19 testing.
If you are concerned about the legitimacy of a testing provider, don't be afraid to ask for credentials. Any testing clinic doing rapid testing in Arizona must have a CLIA certification (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment) from the AZDHS Office of Laboratory Licensure and Certification – and that license should be posted and available.
Contact HEOC@azdhs.gov if you have questions about a testing site.
City of Phoenix Mobile Testing Sites >
For statewide testing providers and events: ADHS COVID-19 Testing page >
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have COVID-like symptoms or have been around someone with COVID-like symptoms, you should get a diagnostic test and stay away from others until you know your results. If you have been vaccinated against COVID-19 and are experiencing any symptoms, you also should seek testing to determine if you have been infected. While breakthrough infections can occur, the risk of severe illness is significantly less among those who are fully vaccinated.
You can also use the CDC’s symptom checker to help you make testing decisions.
In addition to the sites listed on this page, the Arizona Department of Health Services has a list of about 300 testing locations listed at azdhs.gov/COVID19Testing.
All Maricopa County affiliated testing events listed in the calendar are offered free to all community members, with no copays or financial burden for administering the test, regardless of insurance status. Anything listed under Other Testing Sites may be subject to a fee, but it is best to call those vendors ahead of time to verify.
Billing and eligibility criteria for testing vary by provider so it's best to check with the testing site and/or your insurer ahead. The type of test offered (PCR, rapid antigen, or antibody), where you seek testing, and frequency of testing (i.e., routine testing required by employment) may influence costs covered by your insurance.
New testing methods have been developed since the start of the pandemic for detecting SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Some involve inserting a swab into the nose, others require a spit sample. While most labs can turn results back in two to three days, new rapid testing kits can provide results in as little as 15 minutes. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two types of tests for diagnosing an active COVID-19 infection:
- PCR test. This COVID-19 test detects genetic material (RNA) of the virus using a lab technique called polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR tests are considered highly accurate, but running the tests and analyzing the results can take time. Results may be available in as little as 24 hours or a few days depending on the lab's proximity to the testing site and other factors.
PCR tests require that a health care worker collects fluid from the nose or throat. Many coronavirus testing sites have started using shorter, less invasive swabs to swab inside the nostrils and don’t go as far into the nose as the long, uncomfortable nasopharyngeal swab. Saliva-based PCR testing is now also available, where you spit into a small collection tube. - Antigen test. This COVID-19 test detects certain proteins in the virus. Using a nose or throat swab to get a fluid sample, rapid antigen tests can produce results in minutes. A positive antigen test result is considered very accurate, but there's an increased chance of false-negative results — meaning it's possible to be infected with the virus but still have a negative result. Depending on the situation, your health care provider may recommend a PCR test to confirm a negative antigen test result.
NOTE: While they sound similar, antigen tests are not the same as antibody tests. Antibody, or serology, tests are used to detect a past infection with COVID-19 and require a blood sample to detect the presence of antibodies. Antibody tests are not designed to detect an active infection of the virus and should not be used for diagnostic purposes.