COVID-19 Testing
Safe, easy and no-cost testing is widely available at County-sponsored locations for everyone who works or lives in San Mateo County regardless of symptoms.
Here's how to get a COVID-19 test:
- San Mateo County residents should first contact their health care provider for a COVID-19 test.
- If you cannot get a timely test through your health care provider, please select from the following Testing Options listed below for a no-cost test at a County-sponsored location. Insurance will be billed if available.
- Once you select the best option for you, make an appointment. Appointments at ALL TEST SITES are STRONGLY encouraged as there is no guarantee you will be seen without one.
- Remember to bring your photo ID and the reference ID from the confirmation email to your appointment. Please have your insurance information ready if available.
Appointments at ALL TEST SITES are STRONGLY encouraged as there is no guarantee you will be seen without one. Remember to bring your photo ID and the reference ID from the confirmation email to your appointment.
COVID-19 Public Call Center
Call 211 or 800-273-6222
For non-emergency, non-medical questions
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Testing Options
Important Note: The County of San Mateo is aware of a recently-issued FDA safety communication informing of the risk that Curative’s self-administered oral swab COVID-19 testing kits may return false negative results for asymptomatic individuals. The County is monitoring the situation and engaging with Curative as it works to resolve the FDA’s concerns. Please take the FDA’s communication into consideration when choosing the appropriate testing vendor for you and your family.
The Curative SARS-Cov-2 test is reliable for testing individuals with symptoms, within 14 days of symptom onset. A negative result does not rule out COVID-19 and should not be used as the sole basis for treatment or patient management decisions. A negative result does not exclude the possibility of COVID-19, particularly if the test was taken when there were no symptoms. Patients, parents, and caregivers should talk to their healthcare provider if they have concerns and questions about their test results. You and your medical provider should consider a re-test if you are a close-contact of a confirmed case and/or develop symptoms.
Locations
San Mateo County Event Center (Oral Swab):
Appointments are available for children ages 5 and older as well as adults Monday through Friday from Noon to 7:00 PM at the San Mateo County Event Center, 1346 Saratoga Drive, San Mateo, 94403. No walk-ups taken after 6 PM. No eating, drinking, or smoking 20 minutes prior to test.
The test is no-cost to you but insurance will be billed if available (please have your insurance information ready).
College of San Mateo Starting Monday, January 25, 2021 (Shallow Nasal Swab):
Appointments are available for adults and children at least one-year old Tuesdays through Saturdays from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM at 3401 CSM Drive, San Mateo, 94402.
The test is no-cost to you but insurance will be billed if available (please have your insurance information ready).
(select “California” from the drop down under “Choose your location”, click “Get Started”, and follow the steps for registration)
Those who do not have internet access or require assistance with registration can call the LHI Call Center at (888) 634-1123 to make an appointment.
Note: appointments for children under 13 years old cannot be made online and must be made by calling the LHI Call Center.
Daly City, Jefferson Union High School District Administration Offices (Oral Swab):
Appointments are available for children ages 5 and older as well as adults Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Jefferson Union High School District Administration Offices, 699 Serramonte Blvd., Daly City, 94015. No walk-ups taken after 3:00 PM. No eating, drinking, or smoking 20 minutes prior to test.
The test is no-cost to you but insurance will be billed if available (please have your insurance information ready).
East Palo Alto, YMCA, Starting Wednesday, January 27, 2021 (Shallow Nasal Swab):
Appointments are available for adults and children at least one-year old Wednesdays through Sundays from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM at 550 Bell Street, East Palo Alto, 94303.
The test is no-cost to you but insurance will be billed if available (please have your insurance information ready).
Rotating Locations:
The following locations offer testing for anyone over 12 years old on a rotating basis.
The test is no-cost to you but insurance will be billed if available (please have your insurance information ready).
- East Palo Alto
- Half Moon Bay
- North Fair Oaks
- San Bruno
- South San Francisco
Check availability and make an appointment
Additional Options
To find additional local testing sites, visit the state’s testing site locator. Some sites may carry a cost to you.
Working with cities and local partners, the County is also providing pop-up neighborhood testing sites which are advertised through targeted outreach in priority locations identified by Public Health.
Testing is currently recommended if you:
- Have symptoms of COVID-19.
- Were asked by San Mateo County Health to get a test because of a contact tracing or outbreak investigation.
- Were in “close contact” with someone who has COVID-19 in the past 2 weeks.
- Work or live in places such as skilled nursing facilities, group homes, residential care facilities, correctional facilities or homeless shelters.
- Are an essential worker with frequent contacts with the public in the following areas: health care, emergency, food and grocery services, factory workers in food and retail, public transportation, and education.
- Don't have symptoms but believe you may be infected now because you were exposed to people who were sick, were around many people who were not wearing face coverings, and/or were not keeping safe distance in the past 2 weeks.
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