Are you looking for a free COVID test in Los Angeles? If so, you are in the right place. We have compiled a list of free clinics in Los Angeles that can help you get tested and know your status.
Our mission is to make it easy for people to find the best free COVID tests in Los Angeles and get the care they deserve.
If you’re trying to find a free COVID test in Los Angeles, there are many options that might work best for you. Whether you want to get tested at your house or in person at one of the county’s public health department locations, there are lots of places where you can get free testing.
We have recently updated our free clinic locator with current information on where to find free COVID tests in Los Angeles.
The County’s Pick-Up Program
L.A. County residents can pick up a free COVID test kit at the following locations:
- Your local county health department (call ahead to see if they have kits available)
- One of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health’s several mobile testing units (they’ll be parked at various locations throughout L.A. County on certain days)
The L.A. County Department of Public Health has a website with information about its free COVID test program, including where and when you can get tested for free, what symptoms to look out for, and what to do if you think you might have contracted the virus. The website also lists frequently asked questions about COVID and how to protect yourself from the virus.
The County’s At-Home Testing Program
The county’s at-home testing program offers another avenue for LA residents. If you have the flu-like symptoms of COVID-19 and think you might have been exposed to the virus, L.A. County offers an at-home nasal swab test program for county residents who want to know more about their current health status.
Residents can sign up for this program on the Picture by Fulgent Genetics website—it’s a simple process with no cost to participants. Once signed up, users receive an email confirmation with instructions on how to order a test kit and schedule its delivery via FedEx overnight service within two days.
After opening the package, users will activate their tests via their computers or mobile devices (no in-person doctor’s visits!) and then collect mucus samples from their noses using sterile swabs provided in the kit. They must then package these samples into prepaid envelopes, which FedEx will pick up. They should expect results within 48 hours after the tests reach health professionals.
Four Free Kits From the Federal Government
If you live in the U.S. and know anyone who does, you might want to share this information with them because it can help them find free COVID tests in Los Angeles. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is providing free COVID-19 at-home rapid test kits that can be ordered online through their website and shipped directly to your house. These tests differ from traditional lab tests because they give results within 30 minutes and don’t need to be dropped off at a lab.
The CDC’s rapid antigen at-home test kit usually takes longer than three days to arrive, with orders usually shipping in 7–12 days. When ordering the kit online, ensure the address on file with UPS matches your current address, so it gets delivered properly.
Buy From a Pharmacy and Get Reimbursed
You can also get an at-home COVID-19 rapid test kit from a pharmacy and have it reimbursed. The law required insurance companies to cover over-the-counter tests purchased on or after Jan. 15, 2022.
To be eligible for reimbursement:
- You must purchase an at-home kit that produces results within minutes
- Your health plan must provide direct coverage of COVID-19 rapid tests
The pharmacist will either hand you your test kit free directly at the point of sale or charge you a fee if they do not offer free samples. If charged, simply keep your receipt in case you need to submit a claim later on. In either scenario—free sample or paid purchase—you’ll be able to use these kits immediately upon leaving the store with them in hand.
Getting Tested in Person
If you’re in Los Angeles and want to get tested in person, you should first find a testing site near you. There are three different ways to do this:
- Call the number on the site
- Visit the site’s website (you can find it on our website or by looking for COVID testing sites online)
- Go to our Google map of approved COVID testing sites in Los Angeles and click on any location that looks like it might be close enough for easy access
Once you’ve found a COVID testing center near where you live or work, call their phone number and make an appointment for Tuesday or Thursday morning between 8 am and 12 pm. Bring your insurance card with you when making this appointment so they can verify its legitimacy; also, bring a photo ID such as your driver’s license or passport to verify who you are before being evaluated by staff at these locations.
How to Find Free COVID Tests in Los Angeles: The Key Takeaways
There are many different types of tests that can be used to determine your COVID levels, but not all of them will be covered by insurance. Fortunately, there are many ways you can find free COVID tests in Los Angeles County. There are also some other options, such as Federal programs offering free testing kits.
If you don’t have the time or means to travel, there are still ways to get tested. Use a COVID test directory to find the nearest hospital or clinic that offers the type of test you want. You can choose between Rapid PCR tests and Instant Antigen tests, as well as other special types of COVID tests that look like they might be ideal for your situation. The website will show you where these clinics are located, so all you have left to do is call ahead and make sure they have the test in stock.