Large-scale testing site open at PCC West campus
In coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Pima County is opening a drive-through testing location at Pima Community College's West Campus, 2202 W. Anklam Rd. This location starts Jan. 22 and will be open Monday through Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. You can make an appointment here.
Trust your testing site
The Pima County-sponsored free testing sites listed below, and any location listed by the state at
www.azhealth.gov/testing, are licensed and trustworthy. The Pima County Health Department (PCHD) does not regulate or license testing providers.
If you are concerned about the legitimacy of a testing provider, don't be afraid to ask for credentials. Any pop-up testing clinic doing rapid testing in Arizona must have a CLIA license (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment) – and that license should be posted and available.
Contact
HEOC@azdhs.gov if you have questions about a particular pop-up site.
Who should get tested?
- Anyone with symptoms.
- Anyone who has had close contact with an infected person should test at least five days after contact.
- Anyone planning to spend time with someone at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
Antigen vs. PCR Testing
ANTIGEN TESTS: Fast turnaround tests that look for COVID-19 antigens, or small pieces of protein, in your respiratory tract. These tests are not sufficient for international travel or other organizations that require PCR tests.
PCR TESTS: Require laboratory services that look for COVID-19 nucleic acid. They typically take around 24-48 hours to provide results.
How to get free at-home tests
- Every residential address in the U.S. is eligible to order four free at-home COVID-19 tests through a federal program. Visit www.covidtests.gov to order your free at-home tests.
- Most people with a health plan can go online, or to a pharmacy or store to purchase an at-home over-the-counter COVID-19 diagnostic test authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at no cost, either through reimbursement or free of charge through their insurance. Insurers must pay for up to eight tests per covered individual per month. Contact your insurance provider if you have questions. If covered by Medicare or Medicaid, click here for more information.
- Pima County libraries are no longer distributing free at-home tests, as of Jan. 3.
- Click for more information on how to take a self-test and to report results.
- Home-test FAQs
Here is the testing eligibility at the Pima County-sponsored sites below:
You CAN get tested for free:
- With or without symptoms of COVID-19
- Without a referral for a doctor
- If you've had a known exposure and are asymptomatic, don't go for testing before Day 5.
You CANNOT get tested for free:
- If your testing is needed for occupational or work-required reasons
- You have had a COVID-19 test administered at a Pima County site within the last 14 days.
Pima County Health Department mobile testing events - no appointment needed
| Location |
Day & Time |
Test type |
Robles Ranch Community Center
16150 W. Ajo Way |
Friday, Jan. 21
10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. |
Nasal swab (rapid antigen) |
Arivaca Fire Department
16091 W. Univeral Ranch Rd. |
Tuesday, Jan. 25
10 a.m. - 2 p.m. |
Nasal swab (rapid antigen) |
Arivaca Fire Department
16091 W. Universal Ranch Rd. |
Thursday, Jan. 27
10 a.m. - 2 p.m. |
Nasal swab (rapid antigen) |
Pima County Health Department free testing centers - appointment required
88 E. Broadway Blvd, Tucson
North side of TEP building
Sunday - Friday
10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
|
Test: Nasal swab
(antigen rapid test) |
Appointment only; no walk-ups
Make appointment online now
or by phone at 855-452-2346 |
1660 W. Ruthrauff Rd., Tucson
Monday: 7 a.m. - noon
Tuesday: noon - 6 p.m.
Wednesday: noon - 6 p.m.
Thursday: noon - 6 p.m
Friday:
7 a.m. - noon
Saturday:
7 a.m. - noon
Sunday: 7 a.m. - noon
|
Test: Saliva
(PCR test) |
Appointment only; no walk-ups
Register Now
Agency code: SALIVATEST |
315 W. Irvington Road, Tucson
Monday-Saturday
10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
|
Test: Nasal swab
(antigen rapid test) |
Appointment only; no walk-ups
Make appointment online now
or by phone at 855-452-2346 |
6009 E. Grant Road, Tucson
For people with no COVID-19 symptoms
Daily
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
|
Test: Nasal swab
(antigen rapid test) |
Appointment only; no walk-ups
Make appointment online now
or by phone at 855-452-2346 |
6011 E. Grant Road, Tucson
For people with COVID-19 symptoms
Daily
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
|
Test: Nasal swab
(antigen rapid test) |
Appointment only; no walk-ups
Make appointment online now
or by phone at 855-452-2346 |
7250 S. Tucson Blvd, Tucson
(bottom level, between baggage
claim carousels 3-5)
Daily
7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
|
Test: Nasal Swab
(PCR test) |
Appointment only; no walk-ups
Make appointment online now
or by phone at 855-452-2346 |
Self-test FAQs
How can I get the most accurate results from a COVID-19 self-test?
To get the most accurate results from the rapid self-tests, especially with the rise of new COVID-19 variants such as omicron, they have to be timed right. Testing immediately after exposure is likely yield a negative test result, because the virus needs time to multiply and produce a viral load high enough that the rapid test can detect. Experts advise the best time to administer a rapid test is 3-5 days after exposure. If you have symptoms, using a self-test shortly after symptoms begin, and then repeating it 1-2 days later is more likely to yield an accurate result. If using the test before getting together with others, some health experts suggest taking a rapid test just as you arrive, instead of taking it hours (or days) before. With the rapid self-tests, it is also important to follow the manufacturer’s directions. Read more about
self-testing from the CDC.
Will the BinaxNOW self-tests detect infection even if I have the Omicron variant?
A: Yes it will. The many mutations to the spike protein on the Omicron variant do not affect the test’s ability to detect the virus, because the test looks at other things besides the spike gene changes.
Read more from the BinaxNOW test manufacturer.
Where can I find the expiration date for the BinaxNOW self-tests?
The expiration date is found on the back of the box on the bottom right, next to the right of the picture of the hourglass. It is important to make sure that you do not use a test kit that has expired, because it might provide inaccurate results.
Private Testing options
If your organization would like more information on setting up regular self-run, on-site antigen or PCR testing, please fill out this survey to express interest and our COVID-19 testing team will be in contact with you.
Emergency warning signs include, but not limited to:
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- New confusion or inability to wake
- Bluish lips or face
If you have a medical emergency call 9-1-1. Notify the operator that you have or think you might have COVID-19 so first responders can take proper precautions when they arrive.
If your clinician determines you should be tested for COVID-19, they may use the Arizona State Public Health Laboratory guidance to determine if your sample should go through the State Public Health Laboratory or to a commercial laboratory. The turnaround time varies at each lab (typically 3-5 days). Your clinician will get your result and share them with you.