Frequently Asked Questions about Testing and Treatment

Find out where you can get free home tests near you.

Consider visiting one of North Carolina’s Test to Treat sites where you can get tested and receive treatment if you are eligible. Research shows treatment can lower your risk of going to the hospital and dying—but you have to get it in time.

Enter your zip code to find a Test to Treat location near you:

Learn more about available treatments and find out what to do if you feel sick here.

Don’t forget to wear your mask when picking up your test or getting tested. If you aren't well enough to go out, call your healthcare provider or call a telemedicine provider.

More Testing Options

You can get rapid, at-home tests in your community, or you can get them shipped to you from an online pharmacy.

The FDA has a list of all authorized tests. The list includes information about who can use the tests, the shelf life of each test, and more. 

Learn more about home testing

How to take tests at home

If you need a test right away, there are tests available at no cost to you – even if you don’t have insurance.

Find out where you can get free home tests near you.

Need to go to a testing location? Here are locations in North Carolina that may offer PCR or rapid tests at low- or no-cost:

• CVS Health
• Local independent pharmacies 
• Walgreens 
• Walmart in partnership with Quest Diagnostics
• A local health center (Please call ahead to make an appointment.)
• Your local health department

And remember, they can’t ask about your immigration status. 

Don’t have insurance? You may be eligible to have your COVID-19 vaccine, testing and treatment covered at no-cost by Medicaid. Apply online.

While rapid tests, like at-home tests, are a good indicator of the presence of COVID-19, PCR tests are more sensitive. PCR tests detect smaller amounts of the virus.

Here are locations in North Carolina that may offer PCR or rapid tests at low- or no-cost:

• CVS Health
• Local independent pharmacies 
• Walgreens 
• Walmart in partnership with Quest Diagnostics
• A local health center (Please call ahead to make an appointment.)
• Your local health department

You can also go to your healthcare provider if you have one.

There is no “right” test for returning to work. Rather, each employer decides for itself which – if any – test is necessary before coming back to the office. Reach out to your company to find out what they require. 

If you need a negative test to travel, you likely need a PCR test. However, keep in mind:  

• The CDC doesn’t require testing before traveling into the US from a foreign country
• Only some foreign countries still require proof of a negative test before traveling there

Check with your airline, cruise line, or your destination’s official site before scheduling your test. And visit the CDC website for up-to-date information on travel requirements.

If you got tested at a testing site or healthcare provider’s office, they will contact you with test results or tell you where you can go to find the results yourself. 

If you sent a PCR home-test kit for processing, check the instructions that came with the kit to find out where the results will be sent. 

If you took a rapid test at home, you’ll have those results right away. 

While a positive test confirms you have an infection, a negative test only shows that it didn’t detect the virus but does not rule out an infection. So, here’s what you should consider after receiving a negative COVID-19 test result.

Follow current CDC isolation guidelines if:

• You were tested because you have symptoms. 
• A healthcare provider thinks you have COVID-19, even with a negative test. 
• You were tested because of known contact with someone who has COVID-19. 

Resume regular activities if: 

• You were tested for another reason, like workplace screening. 
• You do not have known or suspected contact with someone who has COVID-19. 
• You have no symptoms. 

Here’s what you should do if you receive a positive COVID-19 test result: 

1. Stay home for at least five (5) days and stay away from others in your home.
2. Tell your close contacts that you have COVID-19.
3. Wear a well-fitting mask if you must be around others.

Treatments are available, and research shows they decrease your risk of hospitalization and death — if you get them in time. Don’t wait to see if your symptoms get worse. If you feel sick, even a little, take steps to get treated now. 

Getting treatment may cost nothing, so there’s no reason to delay. 

Here are four ways to get treatment: 

• Call your doctor who will recommend the best course of action.
• Go to a Test to Treat site where you can get tested and treated in one visit.
• Contact a telemedicine provider who can evaluate you for treatment over the phone.
• Find a community health center near you. Health centers provide care to patients regardless of ability to pay.

If you tested at home, you can take your results to a Test to Treat center and get evaluated for treatment even faster.

Note: Seek medical care immediately if you have trouble breathing or experience other warning signs. 

Read the CDC guidelines for quarantine and isolation here.

Test result times depend on the type of test you’ve taken and where you took the test:

• Tests administered on-site by a provider may have results available in less than an hour
• Rapid at-home tests give results in minutes (though the exact time varies by test brand)
• Other tests, like PCR collection kits, must go to a lab. Results may take a few hours to a few days.  

When you get tested, talk with the provider or lab about how long it will take to get your results. 

Since there are many reasons to get tested, it depends. Here’s what you need to know: 

• If you have symptoms or were exposed to someone with COVID-19, stay home and avoid others. Visit our What to Do If You Feel Sick page for more information. 
• If you do not have symptoms and were not exposed, you do not need to stay home unless your employer or a health provider told you to.

Treatments are available if you’re sick, and research shows they work, decreasing your risk of hospitalization and death–if you get them in time. Treatments may also reduce your risk for developing Long COVID. Don’t wait to see if your symptoms get worse. If you feel sick, even a little, take steps to get tested and treated now. Getting treatment may be free, so there’s no reason to delay. 

Here are four ways to get treatment: 

• Call your doctor who will recommend the best course of action.
• Go to a Test to Treat site where you can get tested and treated in one visit.
• Contact a telemedicine provider who can evaluate you for treatment over the phone.
  • Some people may qualify for a FREE nationwide telehealth program. The National Institutes of Health established the program in partnership with eMed. Learn more and find out if you qualify.
• Find a community health center near you. Health centers provide care to patients regardless of ability to pay.

There are a few treatment options currently available for people who are likely to get very sick from COVID-19: 

• Antivirals, which are pills, must be started within 5 days of your first COVID-19 symptoms. They require a prescription. 
• Other treatments may be available and must be taken shortly after COVID-19 symptoms begin. 

If you have symptoms, don’t wait, seek testing right away and talk to a healthcare provider.