Community COVID-19 Testing
Larimer County Public Health, in partnership with local hospitals, has increased COVID-19 testing capacity in the community.
Testing supplies have become more readily available and local providers have been able to provide testing options for their patients. Anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 should call their provider to discuss symptoms and determine whether a COVID-19 test needs to be ordered. Many providers locally can now order tests for their patients.
Larimer County Health Department provides no-cost drive-thru testing on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays:
- Mondays and Wednesdays: 9am – Noon
The Ranch in Loveland from 9 am – 12 noon (closed Monday, 5/31 for Memorial Day) - Thursdays: 9am – Noon
Northside Aztlan Community Center in Fort Collins
Anyone (ages 5 and older), with or without symptoms, is eligible for no-cost testing with the health department for current infection with COVID-19. We do not offer antibody testing. People registering for testing must be at least 5 years of age. Walk-ins will be accepted but testing is prioritized for those who pre-register.
We recommend minors only be tested if they are symptomatic or have been identified as a close contact of a known COVID-19 case. Parents/Guardians must be able to safely control their minor child or we may be unable to perform the test due to safety concerns.
If you have issues with signing up for testing, please contact us. Thanks for your patience as we try to improve our efficiency.
Register here for upcoming test dates. Minimal walk-in slots are available each day, pre-registration recommended. Test results are typically received within 2-4 days. However, there are sometimes delays at the lab and some results could take longer.
Other Community COVID-19 Testing Options
If you have a health care provider, call their office first. Most insurance plans cover the cost of COVID-19 testing. Other testing sites in Larimer County include:
- Salud Family Health Centers – click here for information.
- UCHealth – click here for information.
- Banner Health – call 1-844-549-1856 for an appointment or click here for information.
- Stitches Care – call (970)-825-7820 to ask about costs and testing availability.
Information for those being tested for COVID-19:
If you are being tested because you were in close contact (at least 15 minutes within 6 feet of contact) with someone known to have COVID-19, but you are not having symptoms:
- Stay home and quarantine away from others for at least 14 days since the date you were exposed and monitor for symptoms. Get tested 7-10 days after your exposure. Continue to quarantine for the full 14 days even if your test result is negative.
- If you do not experience symptoms after 14 days, you are safe to be around others.
- If you do develop symptoms during these 14 days, please continue to stay home for 10 days from the day you started having symptoms, until your symptoms improve, and for at least 24 hours since your fever has gone away without using fever-reducing medicines (such as Ibuprofen).
If you are being tested because you have been having symptoms of COVID-19:
- Stay home and isolate away from others for at least 10 days from the first day you had symptoms until your symptoms have improved, and for at least 24 hours since your fever has gone away without using fever-reducing medicines (such as Ibuprofen).
- Once this isolation period is completed, you are safe to be around others.
If you have not had close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 and you have not been having any symptoms of COVID-19, continue taking precautions such as wearing a face-covering, maintaining 6 feet of physical distance, avoiding large gatherings, and washing hands frequently. You do not need to quarantine or isolate. If your test result is positive, we will contact you with more information.
Should I get re-tested?
Getting retested after recovering from COVID-19 is not recommended. It is possible for someone to test positive for up to 3 months after recovering from COVID-19, even though they are not spreading the virus. Once someone who has COVID-19 is 10 days from the first day they have symptoms, their symptoms have improved, and they have been fever-free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medicines (such as Ibuprofen) they are safe to be around others and/or return to work.
Having symptoms of COVID-19?
General Information about Isolation and Quarantine
Antibody Testing
Talk with your health care provider if you’re interested in an antibody test. There are few FDA-authorized antibody tests so few of these tests have had the evaluation and testing to prove that they can provide trustworthy results. Some tests may only detect if you’ve been exposed to the virus, but can’t determine if you are immune. Read more about antibody testing for COVID-19 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention here.
Interested in donating COVID-19 convalescent plasma?
What is convalescent plasma?
The management of COVID-19 has mainly focused on infection prevention, case detection and monitoring, and supportive care. There is no specific anti-SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) treatment recommended at this time because of the absence of evidence, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
However, people who recover (convalesce) from COVID-19 make antibodies against the virus in the plasma component of their blood. And evidence shows that this convalescent plasma can be used as a treatment for patients with COVID-19 without the occurrence of severe adverse events.
UCHealth has already treated patients using this blood and is looking to identify potential donors of convalescent COVID-19 plasma to be able to treat more COVID-positive patients across the state.
Do I qualify?
COVID-19 convalescent plasma may only be collected from COVID-19 recovered individuals if they are eligible to donate blood.
You must have:
- Prior diagnosis of COVID-19 documented by a laboratory test.
- Complete resolution of symptoms at least 14 days before the donation.
- Meet all requirements for blood donation.
- More details are outlined in the FDA guidelines.
What if I had symptoms of COVID-19, but never got a test?
If you suffered from a respiratory illness over the last eight weeks and believe you may have been exposed to COVID-19, you may be eligible to donate plasma in the near future. Please fill out the forms below. Then, if the opportunity arises for you to donate plasma, coordinators will follow up with you soon.
How can I learn more about convalescent plasma donation?
In Northern Colorado: To learn more or to schedule a convalescent plasma donation, contact Kaitlin Zobel: 970.495.8987, or fill out this form and someone will contact you. Details on their process and scheduling can be foundhere.