3 ways to get tested for COVID-19 in Birmingham

Birmingham, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, coronavirus, COVID-19
CDC’s laboratory test kit for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Photo via Centers for Disease Control

Testing for Coronavirus (COVID-19) is available throughout Alabama, through the Alabama Department of Public Health and several private facilities. Here’s everything you need to know about testing for Coronavirus in Birmingham.

And as always, wash your hands!

First—The Symptoms

Screen Shot 2020 03 16 at 8.58.15 AM 3 ways to get tested for COVID-19 in Birmingham
Symptoms of COVID-19. Photo via Centers for Disease Control

Since testing resources are scare nationwide, it’s important to not waste supplies. So, before heading to one of Birmingham’s testing facilities, give your healthcare provider a call and explain your symptoms.

If you do not have a healthcare provider, please call 1.888.264.2256.

“Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.”

World Health Organization

1. Alabama Department of Public Health

The easiest way to get tested for Coronavirus in Birmingham is through your personal healthcare provider. First, give them a call. Then follow their instructions.

During the test, your healthcare provider will take a swab from the nose, just like for the flu. Then, the test will be shipped to the State Lab, where testing kits provided by the CDC will check for the virus. Since the State Lab has the capacity to test up to 150 kits a day, your results should be back within 24-72 hours.

2. Assurance Scientific Labratories

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9xc-UEpNMo/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
  • Address: 3660 Grandview Parkway, Birmingham AL 35243
  • Hours: Line starts 6:30AM, testing begins at 9AM, starting Wednesday, March 18
  • Contact: 205.273.9424 | Website | Facebook

Assurance Drive-Thru labs offers drive-through testing starting 6:30AM starting Wednesday, March 18 at Church of the Highlands Grant Mill Campus at 4700 Highlands Way. They will NOT have testing at Acton Road, Memorial Drive or Church of the Highlands Grandview locations.

Assurance Scientific Laboratories will accept all major insurances, Medicare and Medicaid—and, they also have established a fund to help the uninsured, so no one will be turned away.

3. Urgent Care for Children

Urgent Care for Children is now able to perform curbside COVID-19 testing for patients ages 0 to 21 in any of their five locations throughout Alabama. These tests will then be sent to a third-party lab, and parents can expect to receive a call with their child’s results, regardless if the test is negative or positive.

“The latest medical evidence shows that children are less symptomatic with COVID-19 than adults. Children can become infected and pass the virus to adults, particularly the elderly population, in whom the symptoms are much more severe”

Dr. Allury Arora, Chief Medical Officer, Urgent Care For Children

Stay up to Date on Coronavirus News

Want to stay up to date on the latest about COVID-19? Keep an eye on these national, statewide and local resources:

Are there other resources you know of in the community that we should include here? Tag us on social @bhamnow and let us know, or email us at hello@bhamnow.com.

Nathan Watson
Nathan Watson

Senior Content Producer + Photographer

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