Get tested in SF
If you feel sick, get tested right away, even if you're vaccinated. If you are unvaccinated and have a known exposure but no symptoms, get tested on or after day 6.
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.
Facts about testing
When you need to get tested
If you are not fully vaccinated yet, get tested if:
- You have symptoms of COVID-19
- You had close contact with someone with COVID-19 within 10 days of their positive result (even if they do not have any symptoms)
- You have been asked to be tested by your school, workplace, healthcare provider, or the health department
If you are fully vaccinated, generally you do not need to get tested if you do not feel sick. But you should get tested if:
- You have symptoms of COVID-19
- You have been asked to be tested by your healthcare provider or the health department
- You work in a healthcare setting and are required to be tested by your employer
- You have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 and do not have symptoms but work or live in certain high-risk settings
Optional testing if you are unvaccinated
If you are unvaccinated, think about getting tested in other situations.
You plan to take part in activities that put you at higher risk for COVID-19. Examples are attending large gatherings, or being in crowded indoor settings.
You work in a place where there is a higher risk of COVID-19 transmission. Examples are homeless shelters, jails, and settings with close contact with the public. See detailed testing guidance from the State.
Getting tested for traveling
You should avoid traveling for leisure unless you are fully vaccinated. Vacation travel is not recommended when COVID-19 rates are very high. You could bring COVID-19 back to SF.
If you are not fully vaccinated and come back to SF from outside California, we strongly recommend that you quarantine for 10 days. If you get tested after you get back and test negative, you should quarantine for 7 days.
If you are flying internationally, you are required to get tested within 3 days before you fly back to the US. You must get tested, even if you are vaccinated. You should also get tested 3 to 5 days after you return.
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.
Cost, insurance, and privacy
Some places offer tests for free and do not require insurance. Tests at City-run sites are free to you. If you have health insurance, we will bill your provider.
You do not need a doctor's note to schedule a test.
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 48 hours.
If you feel sick, isolate until you get tested or after talking to a doctor. How long you isolate depends on if you are vaccinated and if you have symptoms.
If you are unvaccinated and were exposed to someone who tested positive, in most cases you’d need to quarantine for at least 10 days. For more information about all situations needing isolation and quarantine, see official guidance from the Department of Public Health.
Testing options
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
By appointment
CityTestSF at Alemany Farmers Market
Operated by the City and County of San Francisco.
Walk-through and drive-through
100 Alemany Boulevard
Book at Alemany for appointments up to 3 days ahead.
Urgent care centers
Urgent care centers accept most insurance. They may charge a fee for the test.
470 Brannan St
Neighborhood test sites
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.
Call to schedule an appointment.
Maxine Hall Testing Site
For uninsured or SF Health Network patients.
1181 Golden Gate Avenue
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:30 am to 11:30 am, 1 pm to 4:30 pm
Wednesday, 8:30 am to 11:30 am
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
Call to schedule an appointment.
Southeast Health Center Testing Site
For uninsured or SF Health Network patients.
2401 Keith Street
Monday to Saturday, 8 am to 4 pm
Call to schedule an appointment.
ZSFG Testing Site
For uninsured or SF Health Network patients.
1001 Potrero Avenue
Monday to Friday, 9 am to 6 pm
Call to schedule an appointment.
Drop-in
Drop-ins may be limited toward the end of the day, to make sure all testing is done properly.
Sites may also close if it’s raining. Test specimens need to be kept dry.
Monday drop-in
- Alemany Farmers Market (walk-through and drive-through at 100 Alemany Boulevard), 12 pm to 8 pm (you can also book an appointment to minimize waiting in line)
- Bayview Opera House (4705 3rd Street), 9 am to 4 pm
- 1099 Sunnydale Ave, 10 am to 2 pm
- 20 Norton Street, 10 am to 6 pm
- Maxine Hall (1181 Golden Gate Avenue) 8:30 am to 11:30 am, 1 pm to 4:30 pm
- True Hope Church Ministries (950 Gilman Ave), 11 am to 6 pm
Tuesday drop-in
- Alemany Farmers Market (walk-through and drive-through at 100 Alemany Boulevard), 8:30 am to 8 pm (you can also book an appointment to minimize waiting in line)
- 90 Kiska Rd, 10 am to 3 pm
- GLIDE Memorial Church parking lot (330 Ellis Street), 10 am to 4 pm
- Maxine Hall (1181 Golden Gate Avenue) 8:30 am to 11:30 am, 1 pm to 4:30 pm
- Treasure Island (Avenue D and 9th St Parking Lot between Childcare and Service Center), 10 am to 2 pm
- Third Baptist Church (1339 McAllister), 11 am to 6 pm
Wednesday drop-in
- Alemany Farmers Market (walk-through and drive-through at 100 Alemany Boulevard), 8:30 am to 8 pm (you can also book an appointment to minimize waiting in line)
- Portsmouth Square (745 Kearny St in Chinatown), 10 am to 2 pm
- GLIDE Memorial Church parking lot (330 Ellis Street), 10 am to 4 pm
- Maxine Hall (1181 Golden Gate Avenue) 8:30 am to 11:30 am
- 2055 Sunnydale Avenue, 10 am to 2 pm
- Third Baptist Church (1339 McAllister), 1 pm to 8 pm
Thursday drop-in
- Alemany Farmers Market (walk-through and drive-through at 100 Alemany Boulevard), 8:30 am to 8 pm (you can also book an appointment to minimize waiting in line)
- Bayview Opera House (4705 3rd Street), 9 am to 4 pm
- Maxine Hall (1181 Golden Gate Avenue) 8:30 am to 11:30 am, 1 pm to 4:30 pm
- Mission Hub (19th Street and Alabama Street), 10 am to 3 pm
- True Hope Church Ministries (950 Gilman Ave), 2 pm to 9 pm
Friday drop-in
- Alemany Farmers Market (walk-through and drive-through at 100 Alemany Boulevard), 8:30 am to 1 pm (you can also book an appointment to minimize waiting in line)
- Maxine Hall (1181 Golden Gate Avenue) 8:30 am to 11:30 am, 1 pm to 4:30 pm
- NOW Hunters Point (155 Jennings Street), 9 am to 4 pm
- 50 Broad Street, 9 am to 4 pm
- True Hope Church Ministries (950 Gilman Ave), 11 am to 6 pm
Saturday drop-in
- NOW Hunters Point (155 Jennings Street), 10 am to 4 pm
- Third Baptist Church (1339 McAllister), 11am to 6 pm
Sunday drop-in
- True Hope Church Ministries (950 Gilman Ave), 11 am to 6 pm
At-home testing
If you cannot get tested at a clinic or with your healthcare provider, you could use a self-collection kit. These kits can be done anywhere. They are sometimes called “home tests” or “at-home tests.” You can get these with a prescription, or over-the-counter in pharmacies or by mail.
These might not be allowed for healthcare purposes or traveling. Check any travel or healthcare requirements before you use the test.
Wear a face covering and stay 6 feet apart from others, when you arrive to get tested.
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 multiple sites and mobile testing in SF.
One Medical is a national primary care practice. They operate numerous test sites throughout the US.
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 multiple 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. Or you could still have COVID-19, but the test does not show you are infected yet. 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.