Coronavirus: A state-by-state guide to virus testing policies

If you are feeling ill and wonder if you should be tested for the new coronavirus, there are some things to know and some things to consider.

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First, the tests are not available everywhere to everyone. Each state has its own rules for conducting tests and most require that a physician refer a person for a test.

Generally, the test will not be conducted on someone who is not displaying symptoms of the virus, and those getting the tests must meet either the state’s own criteria for tests or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s criteria.

Below is a list of each state’s public health department and information about testing policies. Remember, call your doctor before you go to the doctor’s office if you have the symptoms of COVID-19.

The information below applies to testing done by the state. If you go to a commercial testing facility, the criteria are not necessarily the same. Generally, results from state testing take from 24 to 72 hours to come back.

Alabama

If you do not have a physician you see regularly and feel you need a test, you can call 1-888-264-2256.
For more information, call Alabama’s 211 system by dialing 2-1-1 or texting 888-421-1266. Or visit the Alabama Department of Public Health’s coronavirus webpage.

Alaska

For more information, visit the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services’ website.

Arizona

For more information, call the Arizona information line at 1-844-542-8201, or visit the Arizona Department of Health Services’ website.

Arkansas

For more coronavirus information, call 800-803-7847 or visit the Arkansas Department of Health’s website.

California

Call your local public health department to be evaluated for testing.
For more coronavirus information, visit the California Department of Public Health's webpage.

Colorado

Patients must be symptomatic and meet the state’s criteria to be tested.
For more information, call the CO HELP line at 303-389-1687 or 1-877-462-2911, or go to the website of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Connecticut

If you do not have a primary care physician, call one of these hotlines:

• Hartford Healthcare Hotline: (860) 972-8100

• Yale-New Haven Health: (833) 484-1200

• Bristol Hospital Coronavirus Info Line: (860) 261-6855

• Stamford Health: (203) 276-4111

For more information, go to the state’s coronavirus website.

Delaware

For more information, call the Delaware Division of Public Health's call center at (866) 408-1899. TTY users should dial 1-800-232-5460.
The state is only recommending testing for people with symptoms.
For more information, visit the Delaware Division of Public Health's website.

District of Columbia

Residents without a primary care provider can call 202-576-1117.
Only patients who meet the CDC’s criteria will be tested through the DC Department of Forensic Sciences Public Health Laboratory.
For more information, go to the District of Columbia’s coronavirus website or resource page.

Florida

Call your health care provider or county health department if you think you need a test. You will have to meet the state’s criteria for testing.
For more information, call the Florida information line at 866-779-6121 or visit the Florida Department of Health’s website.

Georgia

To be tested, you must meet the state’s criteria for testing.
For more information, visit the Georgia Department of Public Health's website.

Hawaii

Hawaii uses the CDC’s criteria to determine testing.
For more information, visit the Hawaii Department of Health's coronavirus website.

Idaho

Idaho uses the CDC’s criteria to determine testing.
For more information, call 211 or your local public health district, or go to Idaho's coronavirus website.

Illinois

Someone who wants a test must meet the Illinois Department of Public Health’s criteria for testing.
For more information, call 1-800-889-3931 or email questions to DPH.SICK@ILLINOIS.GOV. This is the link for the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Indiana

Your health care provider must have authorization from the Indiana State Department of Health in order for the test to be evaluated by the department.
For more information, go to the Indiana State Department of Health’s website, call the Epidemiology Resource Center at 317-233-7125 or e-mail epiresource@isdh.in.gov.

Iowa

The State Hygienic Lab conducts tests for patients who meet the state's criteria.
For more information, call Iowa’s 211 system or visit the Iowa Department of Public Health’s website.

Kansas

Call your local health department to be connected to a physician in your area if you do not already have one.
Patients must meet the state’s criteria to be tested.
For more information, call the state's hotline at 1-866-534-3463 (available Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.) or go to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment's website.

Kentucky

Contact your health care provider or local health department if you have symptoms of COVID-19.
For more information, call the Kentucky coronavirus hotline at 1-800-722-5725 or visit the Kentucky Department for Public Health’s website.

Louisiana

For more information, contact the Louisiana 211 network by dialing 2-1-1 or by texting LACOVID to 898-211, or visit the Louisiana Department of Health’s coronavirus website.

Maine

Testing will be done based on CDC guidance.
For more information, contact Maine’s 211 system by calling 2-1-1, or by calling 1-866-811-5695, texting your ZIP code to 898-211, or emailing info@211maine.org. You can also visit the Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention’s website.

Maryland

For more information, go to the Maryland Department of Health's coronavirus website.

Massachusetts

For more information, call the state 211 line (by dialing 2-1-1. The information line is providing real-time COVID-19 information. Or you can visit the Massachusetts coronavirus website.

Michigan

Contact your local health department for testing information.
For more information, call the state hotline at 1-888-535-6136 (available daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) or visit the Michigan coronavirus website.

Minnesota

The state lab is only testing the highest priority patients.
For more coronavirus information, call the state hotline at 651-201-3920 or visit the Minnesota Department of Health’s website.

Mississippi

For information about coronavirus in Mississippi, go to the Mississippi Department of Health’s coronavirus website, or you can also call the hotline Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at (877) 978-6453.

Missouri

People must meet the state's criteria for testing.
For more information, call the Missouri 24-hour coronavirus hotline at 877-435-8411, or visit the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services' website.

Montana

People must meet CDC guidance for testing.
For more information, visit the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services website, or contact your tribal or county health department websites.

Nebraska

Go to this link for health care networks in the state if you do not have a health care provider.
For more information, call the state hotline at 402-552-6645 (available daily between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.) or check the Department of Health and Human Services’ website.

Nevada

If you do not have a health care provider or are uninsured, call your local Federally Qualified Health Center for evaluation.
For more information, visit the Nevada coronavirus website, or call 702-759-INFO.

New Hampshire

Patients must meet the CDC criteria to be tested.
You can find more information on the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services’ website.

New Jersey

Call your doctor or local health department if you feel you need to be tested. Providers will use the CDC criteria to determine testing.
For more information, visit the New Jersey Department of Health's website.

New Mexico

For more information, go to the New Mexico Department of Health’s website, or call the state hotline at 1-855-600-3453.

New York

Patients must meet the state’s criteria to be tested.
For more information, call 1-888-364-3065 or visit the New York Department of Health’s website.

North Carolina

Patients must meet the state’s criteria to be tested.
For more information, go to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ website.

North Dakota

If you do not have a physician, call your local public health unit.
Only symptomatic people are being tested at this time.
For more information, visit the North Dakota Department of Health’s website.

Ohio

Contact your local health district if you do not have a health care provider.
At this time, asymptomatic people are not being tested.
For more information, visit the Ohio Department of Health’s website, or call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH.

Oklahoma

If you do not have a provider, you can call the coronavirus call center at 877-215-8336.
The CDC criteria is used to determine testing.
For more information, visit the Oklahoma State Department of Health’s website.

Oregon

If you do not have a health care provider, call the Oregon 2-1-1 hotline or contact your county health clinic.
For more information, call 2-1-1, or visit the Oregon Health Authority’s website.

Pennsylvania

Call the state hotline at 1-877-PA-HEALTH (1-877-724-3258) if you think you may need to be tested.
For coronavirus information, call 1-877-724-3258 or visit the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s website.

Rhode Island

You can find more information on the Rhode Island Department of Health’s website.

South Carolina

Patients will be tested based on the state's criteria
For more information, call the South Carolina coronavirus information line at 1-855-472-3432, or visit the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control’s website.

South Dakota

Patients will be tested based on the state’s criteria.
For more information, call the South Dakota coronavirus information line at 1-800-977-2880, or visit the South Dakota Department of Health’s website.

Tennessee

For more information on the coronavirus, contact the Tennessee Department of Health, or call the department’s COVID-19 public information hotline at 877-857-2945. The phone is manned from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. CT.

Texas

Patients must meet the state’s criteria for testing.
For more information, visit the Texas Health and Human Services Department website.

Utah

If you do not have a health care provider, call the Utah coronavirus hotline at 1-800-456-7707.
For more information, visit the state’s coronavirus website.

Vermont

Patients must meet the state’s criteria for testing.
For more information, visit the Vermont Department of Health’s website.

Virginia

For coronavirus information, visit the Virginia Department of Health’s website.

Washington

For information on COVID-19 testing, click here, or visit the department’s coronavirus website.

West Virginia

Providers will determine if a test is indicated based on CDC criteria.
For more information, call the state COVID-19 hotline at 1-800-887-4304, or visit the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources’ website.

Wisconsin

Health care providers will use the CDC criteria to determine who will be tested.
For more information, visit the Wisconsin Department of Health Services’ website.

Wyoming

Call your health care provider to discuss whether you should be evaluated in person and considered for testing.
To be tested by the Wyoming Public Health Laboratory, patients must meet the state’s criteria.
For more information, visit the Wyoming Department of Health’s website.

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