Get tested in SF
We are currently experiencing high demand for testing. If you feel sick, get tested immediately. If you have a known exposure, you must wait 3 to 5 days for the virus to be detected.
If you have health insurance, schedule a test with your doctor. If you have symptoms or a known exposure, your healthcare provider is required by law to get you a test.
Help save City resources for our essential workers and those who have symptoms or a known exposure.
About City-run test sites
Eligibility
- Live in San Francisco and have a symptom or a close contact with COVID-19
- Work in San Francisco and interact with the public, cannot stay 6 feet apart at your job, or work directly with people most at risk for COVID-19
- Call your healthcare provider to test children under 13.
Adults and children 13 years of age or older can get tested at any site. If you don’t have insurance, community pop-up testing sites can test children with parental or guardian consent.
Getting tested for traveling
You must avoid traveling at this time. There is a large surge across the country. You could bring COVID-19 back to SF.
One negative COVID-19 test does not mean it's safe to travel or gather with others. You could have the virus, but not enough to be detected.
If you need to get tested without symptoms or known exposure, call your healthcare provider for a test. You can also schedule a test with an urgent care provider.
Government-operated test sites do not support testing for traveling or gatherings.
Cost and insurance
Tests at City-run sites are free to you. If you have health insurance, we will bill your provider.
You do not need medical insurance to get tested at a City-run site. You do not need a doctor's note to schedule a test.
COVID-19 symptoms
- Fever over 100.4° Fahrenheit or 38.0° Celsius
- Chills (shivering a lot)
- Cough
- Difficulty breathing
- Fatigue or soreness
- Loss of smell or taste
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Diarrhea, feeling sick to your stomach, or throwing up
Children and youth under 18 do not need to get tested if they have a stuffy nose, soreness, or feel tired.
Privacy
Photo ID is not needed. You may be asked to show photo ID, but you can say no.
The personal info you provide is confidential. Your test result will be reported to the health departments in SF, your home county, and the state.
If you shared the name of your doctor, your doctor will also get your results.
A parent or guardian must consent in person to testing a child under 13. The guardian will get the results.
Youth between 13 and 17 can get tested on their own. They can get their own test results.
After your test
You should get your results in less than a week.
If you feel sick, isolate at home for 10 days.
If you were exposed to someone who tested positive, quarantine at home for at least 14 days.
If you don’t feel sick and were not exposed, keep following Stay Home guidelines.
If you test positive, a City health worker will call you. They will ask about people you have been physically close to. If you test positive, don’t have sick pay, and live in SF, the City can help replace your income.
Testing options for the general public
Thanksgiving holiday testing options
If you have insurance, contact your doctor or your healthcare provider. If you have symptoms or have been exposed, your healthcare provider is required by law to provide you with a test.
If you do not have insurance, you can get a test at these city-run sites if you either:
- Live in San Francisco and have symptoms or have been exposed
- Are an essential worker who lives or works in San Francisco
Thanksgiving holiday (Thursday, November 26 and Friday, November 27) testing availability:
CityTestSF at Alemany Farmers Market
Operated by the City and County of San Francisco.
Walk-through and drive-through
Alemany will take a limited number of drop-ins. Make an appointment for guaranteed testing.
100 Alemany Boulevard
For the Thanksgiving holiday, Alemany will be open:
- Wednesday, November 25, 8:30 am to 1 pm
- Thursday, November 26, 8:30 am to 1 pm
- Friday, November 27, 8:30am to 12:30pm
Book at Alemany, if you have a symptom or close contact.
Optum Serve Site, City College Campus
Operated by the State of California.
Walk-through, with an appointment.
1800 Oakdale (entrance at 1200 Phelps)
Book at Optum Serve Site, if you have a symptom or close contact.
Children under 13 must be registered for testing by a parent or guardian. Youth between the ages of 13 and 17 can register themselves for testing and get their own results.
This site is closed on Thanksgiving Day.
Testing is available Friday, November 27 from 7am to 7pm.
Southeast Health Center Testing Site
For uninsured or SF Health Network patients. Children can get tested here.
2401 Keith Street
Open Friday, November 27, 8:30 am to 12 pm and 1pm to 5pm.
Call to schedule an appointment. You can drop in.
Your healthcare provider first
If you have insurance, contact your doctor or your healthcare provider. If you have symptoms or have been exposed, your healthcare provider is required by law to get you a test.
Call your healthcare provider directly, if you don't see them on this list.
Carbon Health
Urgent care site, for tests with no symptoms or known exposure
Book a test at an urgent care site if you are getting tested:
- Without symptoms, a known exposure, or not doing essential work
- If you want a test before traveling or visits (not recommended during this surge)
Urgent care centers accept most insurance. They may charge a fee for the test.
City Bay Urgent Care
2131 Irving St
Government-operated, if you have symptoms or known exposure
City-run test sites do not support testing for travel or gatherings. City resources should be saved for essential workers, people who feel sick, or have known exposure to COVID-19.
CityTestSF Embarcadero
Operated by the City and County of San Francisco.
Walk-through and drive-through, with an appointment.
Pier 30/32
7 days a week, 8 am to 6 pm.
Open Wednesday, November 25 from 8 am to 1 pm.
Closed on Thursday, November 26 and Friday November 27.
Book at CityTestSF Embarcadero, if you have a symptom or close contact
Demand is high at Embarcadero right now. If you have insurance, please call your doctor or healthcare provider.
CityTestSF at Alemany Farmers Market
Operated by the City and County of San Francisco.
Walk-through and drive-through
Alemany will take a limited number of drop-ins. Make an appointment for guaranteed testing.
100 Alemany Boulevard
Monday, 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm
Tuesday to Thursday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Friday, 8:30 am to 12:30 pm
For the Thanksgiving holiday, Alemany will be open:
- Wednesday, November 25, 8:30 am to 1 pm
- Thursday, November 26, 8:30 am to 1 pm
- Friday, November 27, 8:30am to 12:30pm
Book at Alemany, if you have a symptom or close contact.
Optum Serve Site, City College Campus
Operated by the State of California.
Walk-through, with an appointment.
Children under 13 must be registered for testing by a parent or guardian. Youth between the ages of 13 and 17 can register themselves for testing and get their own results.
1800 Oakdale (entrance at 1200 Phelps)
Book at Optum Serve Site, if you have a symptom or close contact.
This site is closed on Thanksgiving Day.
Testing is available Friday, November 27 from 7am to 7pm.
Neighborhood test sites (limited capacity)
Test sites that are open to the public, but are intended for uninsured or local residents. Make an appointment if you can.
Castro Mission Testing Site
For uninsured or SF Health Network patients. Children can get tested here.
3850 17th Street
Monday to Friday, 8 am to 12 pm and 1 pm to 5 pm
Saturday and Sunday, 12 pm to 4 pm
Closed on Thursday, November 26 and Friday, November 27.
Call to schedule an appointment. You can drop in.
Chinese Hospital Test Site
Open to everyone. Check your eligibility when you make an appointment.
845 Jackson Street
Monday through Saturday, 11:30 am to 12:30 pm, except holidays.
Closed on Thursday, November 26 and Friday, November 27.
Call to schedule an appointment.
Maxine Hall Testing Site
For uninsured or SF Health Network patients. Children can get tested here.
1181 Golden Gate Avenue
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:30 am to 12pm, 1 pm to 4 pm
Wednesday, 8:30 am to 12 pm
Closed on Thursday, November 26 and Friday, November 27.
Call to schedule an appointment. You can drop in.
Mission Neighborhood Health Center
Focused on Mission residents and community members.
240 Shotwell St, in the parking lot.
Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm
Closed on Thursday, November 26 and Friday, November 27.
Call to schedule an appointment.
Potrero Hill Health Center Testing Site
For uninsured or SF Health Network patients. Children can get tested here.
1050 Wisconsin Street
Monday to Friday, 9 am to 11:30 am and 1:30 pm to 3:15 pm
Closed on Thursday, November 26 and Friday, November 27.
Site is drop-in only. No appointment needed.
Southeast Health Center Testing Site
For uninsured or SF Health Network patients. Children can get tested here.
2401 Keith Street
7 days a week, 8:30 am to 12 pm and 1 pm to 5 pm
Closed on Thanksgiving Day.
Open Friday, November 27, 8:30 am to 12 pm and 1pm to 5pm.
Call to schedule an appointment. You can drop in.
Sunnydale HOPE SF Testing Site
For uninsured or SF Health Network patients and Sunnydale residents.
1652 Sunnydale Avenue
Tuesday 12 pm to 3 pm
Thursday 10 am to 2 pm
Closed on Thursday, November 26 and Friday, November 27.
Drop in only.
Tenderloin Neighborhood Testing Site at GLIDE
Focused on residents and essential workers of the Tenderloin neighborhood.
No insurance needed. No ID needed.
Walk-through
GLIDE parking lot, 330 Ellis Street
Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 10am to 4pm
Closed on Thursday, November 26 and Friday, November 27.
ZSFG Testing Site
For uninsured or SF Health Network patients. Children can get tested here.
1001 Potrero Avenue
Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 4:30 pm
Closed on Thursday, November 26 and Friday, November 27.
Call to schedule an appointment.
Pop-up community testing sites
DPH partners with community organizations to bring testing and services to neighborhoods w most impacted by COVID-19.
These sites are at various locations throughout the week and the schedule changes according to need.
These sites offer COVID-19 testing to minors under the age of 13 with guardian or parental consent. At the test sites, clinicians can also teach parents how to take a sample for their children.
You must make an appointment, unless mentioned otherwise. Wear a face covering and stay 6 feet apart from others, when you arrive to get tested. If you drive through, keep your windows rolled up and your mask on.
More information
After your test
Get help
Downloadable resources
About testing partners
Color is a health tech company providing a high volume COVID-19 test lab for Embarcadero, SOMA, and mobile sites in SF.
One Medical is a national primary care practice, managing clinical operations at SOMA. They operate over 20 test sites.
Optum provides COVID-19 testing at over 80 sites across CA, including City College.
Carbon Health is a tech-enabled healthcare provider with clinics across CA, virtual care in 16 states, and COVID-19 testing nationwide.
About
The COVID-19 test detects if you have the virus at the time you take the test. It does not test for immunity or if you had the virus in the past.
If your test is negative, you must still be careful. You can still get infected. If you have COVID-19 symptoms later, you can get tested again.
Have questions or need more help? Call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.