THE Los Angeles County Department of Health Services has expanded its “Pick-up Testing Kit” program with an additional 7,000 free COVID-19 testing kits available daily via 14 new county library sites in Los Angeles County.
The “Pick-Up Testing Kit” program allows residents to pick up a PCR test kit, perform the test and return the completed test for processing. These test kits are not the rapid antigen tests. Residents will be notified of their test results within 24-48 hours. “Pick-Up Testing Kits” will be available without an appointment and until daily supplies are exhausted at designated locations.
The new expansion brings the pick-up testing locations to nearly 30 sites across LA County. For a full listing of the new and existing Pick-Up testing locations visit: Pick-Up Testing Kit Program.
The “Pick-Up Testing Kit” Program including at the new Library sites, operates as follows:
– 500 PCR Kits are available daily, at participating locations
– Kits cannot be reserved and are given on a first-come basis
– A limit of 1 kit per person or 2 kits per family
– Residents should use the kits immediately and return them back to the site where it was picked up.
– Residents will receive their results in 24-48 hours via email
Please Note: The Pick-Up Testing Kit is a PCR test that requires individuals to register online with a smartphone. Follow the instructions inside the package to self-test and return completed test for results. These kits are not rapid test kits. Residents unable to self-register or self-test can schedule an appointment at one of our other testing locations.
The “Pick-Up Testing Kit” program is part of ongoing efforts designed to expand testing capacity as demand across the county remains high.
LA County Department of Health Services also recently relaunched the COVID-19: LA County At-Home Holiday Testing program on an intermittent schedule and with new guidelines to reach more people and make it easier to get tested. Any LA County resident who is symptomatic or believes they were exposed to COVID-19 can order a home testing kit. The home testing kits are delivered and returned via FedEx. The test results are available within 48 hours after the lab has received the sample.
All testing services operated and affiliated with LA County Department of Health Services are free and can be found at https://covid19.lacounty.gov/testing/. We encourage residents to use our website to identify testing locations near them. Sites that are listed on the webpage have been pre-screened by LA County to ensure that they:
- Offer the test with no out-of-pocket cost
- Offer tests to everyone regardless of health insurance status
- Offer tests to everyone regardless of immigration status
- Offer FDA-approved tests
It is important that LA County residents understand that not all COVID-19 testing sites are affiliated with or are operated by LA County. COVID testing sites are also being operated by private companies, private health care systems and local municipalities, and some privately operated sites may charge for their testing services.
LA County does not have oversight over testing sites not directly operated by LA County Department of Health Services. As of January 31, there are over 300 COVID-19 testing sites listed in the LA County’s COVID-19 testing site, covid19.lacounty.gov/testing/. Of those, 70 are operated by LA County’s Department of Health Services, while the rest are operated by testing partners.