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If you’re looking for a rapid COVID test in Kansas City, here are some of the best options.
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Where to Get a Rapid COVID Test in Kansas City
There are many places to get a rapid COVID test in Kansas City. You can go to your local doctor or urgent care, or you can get a test at one of the many drive-thru testing sites. You can also get a test at a pharmacy or grocery store.
The Kansas City Health Department
The Kansas City Health Department offers rapid COVID-19 testing at four locations. The tests are free and no appointment is necessary.
The four testing locations are:
– Swope Health Services – 3801 Blue Parkway, Kansas City, MO 64130
– Wendell Phillips Elementary School – 2900 E. 18th Street, Kansas City, MO 64127
– Hillcrest Hope – 10401 Bounds Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64134
– Southeast Community Center – 4201 E. 63rd Street, Kansas City, MO 64130
For more information about the Kansas City Health Department’s COVID-19 testing program, please visit their website or call (816) 513-6200.
The University of Kansas Health System
The University of Kansas Health System is providing free, drive-thru rapid COVID-19 testing for anyone who lives or works in Jackson, Clay or Platte counties in Missouri, or Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas. No appointment is necessary.
You do not need to be a patient of The University of Kansas Health System to be tested.
Testing is available Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m., and Saturday – Sunday, 8 a.m. – noon, at the following locations:
-University of Kansas Hospital (4501 E. 63rd St., Kansas City, MO 64110)
-Overland Park Regional Medical Center (10500 Quivira Rd., Overland Park, KS 66215)
Children’s Mercy Kansas City
Children’s Mercy Kansas City is offering FREE rapid COVID-19 testing for patients with symptoms. Testing is available by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, call 816-234-3155.
Truman Medical Centers
Truman Medical Centers offer free rapid COVID-19 testing at two of its locations in Kansas City, Missouri. Appointments are required and can be made online or by calling 816-404-CARE. Tests are available Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
The two locations are:
Truman Medical Center Lakewood
7900 Lee’s Summit Road
Kansas City, MO 64139
Truman Medical Center Hospital Hill
2301 Holmes Street
Kansas City, MO 64108
When to Get Tested
If you think you have COVID-19 symptoms or have been exposed to the virus, you may want to get tested. Symptoms can appear 2-14 days after exposure. If you test positive, you will need to isolate yourself to protect others.
If You Have COVID-19 Symptoms
If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should get tested as soon as possible. You can get a rapid test at a variety of locations in Kansas City, including your local health department, community health center, or pharmacy. Many of these tests are free of charge, and you will usually get your results within minutes.
If You’ve Been Exposed to Someone With COVID-19
If you have had close contact (within 6 feet) of someone with a confirmed COVID-19 infection for at least 15 minutes, you should get tested as soon as possible. If you develop symptoms, you should also get tested.
If You’re Traveling
If You’re Traveling: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you should get a test 3-5 days before your trip, keep a copy of your results with you, and continue to socially distance and wear a mask. The test should be PCR (polymerase chain reaction), which is the most accurate. If you can’t get a PCR test, you should get an antigen test.
While some airlines are now requiring proof of a negative test before boarding, requirements change often. Check with your airline before traveling.
How to Get Tested
If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, you may be wondering where to get a rapid COVID test in Kansas City. We have compiled a list of options for you.
Make an Appointment
If you think you need a test, the first step is to make an appointment with your doctor or another healthcare provider. You can also find testing locations through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s (KDHE) website or by calling their COVID-19 hotline at 877-427-5633.
Get Tested
If you think you have COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone who does, get tested as soon as possible. There are many testing sites throughout Kansas City, so finding one should not be difficult. You can also call the KCMO Health Department’s COVID-19 hotline at 311 for help in finding a testing site near you.
Remember, it is important to get tested even if you do not have symptoms because you could be infected and not know it. You may also have mild symptoms or no symptoms at all but still be able to spread the virus to others. So please, if you think you need a test, get one as soon as possible.
Results
A negative result means the virus was not found in your body. If your test is positive, it means you have the virus and can spread it to others, whether or not you feel sick.
What to Do If You Test Positive
If you have any symptoms of COVID-19, it is important to get tested as soon as possible. There are many places to get a rapid COVID test in Kansas City.
Isolate Yourself
If you have tested positive for COVID-19, you will need to isolate yourself at home away from other people. You should not go to work, school, or public places. You should also not have visitors over, even if they have been tested. You can spread the virus even if you don’t have symptoms.
You will need to stay in a specific room and use a separate bathroom, if possible. Sleep in a separate bed from other people in your home. If you cannot do this, sleep as far away from other people as possible and wear a face mask when you are in the same room with them. Try to avoid sharing personal items like dishes, towels, and bedding with other people in your home.
You will need to take your temperature twice a day and watch for symptoms of COVID-19. Symptoms can appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus and include fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, and new loss of taste or smell. If you develop symptoms, you will need to seek medical attention.
Contact Tracing
Contact tracing is the process of identifying, notifying, and monitoring close contacts of infected persons to prevent the further spread of a communicable disease.
If you test positive for COVID-19, a public health worker will reach out to you to ask about your close contacts in the days prior to feeling sick. The public health worker will work with you to provide information about how these individuals can best protect themselves and prevent spreading the virus to others.
The best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to:
-Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
-Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
-Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.
-Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
-Stay home if you are sick, except to get medical care.
Seek Medical Care
If you test positive for COVID-19, you should:
-isolate yourself from other people
-contact your healthcare provider
-tell people you may have been in close contact with that they may have been exposed to the virus
Resources
If you want to get a rapid COVID test in Kansas City, your best bet is to go to a drive-through testing site. The Kansas City Health Department operates several drive-through testing sites around the city. You can also get a rapid COVID test at some pharmacies and urgent care clinics.
Kansas City Health Department
The Kansas City Health Department is now offering rapid COVID-19 testing at its drive-thru site on Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard. The tests are free, but you must make an appointment by calling 816-513-6200.
The site is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to noon. You will be asked to provide your insurance information when you make your appointment, but you will not be charged for the test if you do not have insurance.
Please note that this site is for symptomatic patients only – if you are feeling sick, please do not come to the drive-thru without an appointment.
The University of Kansas Health System
The University of Kansas Health System is a not-for-profit, integrated academic medical center headquartered in Kansas City, Kan. The system includes the University of Kansas Hospital, which is nationally recognized for several specialties; the university’s only Level 1 trauma center; three community campuses; and 37 rural health clinics.
Children’s Mercy Kansas City
Children’s Mercy Kansas City is now offering rapid COVID-19 testing for patients with symptoms of the virus. The test is available to patients who are 12 years of age or older and who have a scheduled appointment at one of our clinics. To be eligible for the test, patients must have a fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, a new cough and/or new onset of runny nose or nasal congestion within the past 14 days.
If you think your child may have COVID-19 and meets the criteria for testing, please call our appointment line at 816-234-3155 to schedule an appointment. When you call, please tell the scheduler that your child needs a rapid COVID test so that they can be seen at our Drive-Through Testing Clinic.
Truman Medical Centers
In an effort to help our community contain the spread of COVID-19, Truman Medical Centers (TMC) offer rapid testing sites throughout Kansas City, Missouri. TMC is the largest healthcare provider in Jackson County and provides care for everyone, regardless of their ability to pay.
All TMC patients, employees and visitors are welcome to be tested at any of our four testing sites:
-TMC Lakewood Campus: 7900 Lee’s Summit Road, Kansas City, MO 64139
-TMC Behavioral Health Campus: 2323 E. Linwood Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64109
-TMC Hospital Hill Campus: 2301 Holmes Street, Kansas City, MO 64108
-TMC Jackson County Health Department Clinic: 2700 Saint Lukes Blvd., Suite A, Kansas City, MO 64108
To be tested at TMC, simply walk in to one of our testing sites during operating hours. No appointment is necessary.
