How to get tested for COVID-19 in Birmingham
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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
Since testing resources are scarce 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. Downtown Birmingham Testing
- Location: The corner of University Boulevard and 22nd Street South.
- Call hours: 7AM to 7PM, seven days a week
- Testing hours: 9AM to 11:15AM, seven days a week
Birmingham-area hospitals, the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the Jefferson County Department of Health have teamed up to offer testing for COVID-19 (Coronavirus) starting Monday, March 23.
Patients must first call 205.975.1881 to be screen by a provider and schedule an appointment.
In addition, experts from UAB have launched a Coronavirus Symptom Tracker to improve disease tracking across the South.
2. Alabama Department of Public Health
- Contact: 800.252.1818 | Website | Facebook | Instagram
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.
3. Southview Medical
Contact: 205.933.4640 | Website | Facebook
Southview Medical group are treating 500 patients a day through video conferencing and telemedicine.
4. Assurance Scientific Labratories
- 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.
5. Urgent Care for Children
- Contact: 205.848.CARE | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn
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 results will typically be available within 24 hours.
“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:
- Text BHMCOVID to 888-777 to receive text message updates about important announcements and information from City of Birmingham
- Alabama Department of Public Health
- Jefferson County Department of Health (Additional Tips) – HERE
- Centers for Disease Control—Symptoms of Coronavirus
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.
