Skip to content
Link copied to clipboard

How to get tested for the coronavirus in the Philadelphia area

Officials recently advised that not everyone needs to be tested. But if you have coronavirus symptoms, which can include a dry cough and fever, and are at a high-risk (age 65 and older, or immunocomprised), you may be able to get a test near your home.

Philadelphia Medical Reserve Corps volunteer Emma Ewing, a sophomore at Temple University, directs cars at the city's coronavirus testing site next to Citizens Bank Park in South Philadelphia on Friday, March 20, 2020.
Philadelphia Medical Reserve Corps volunteer Emma Ewing, a sophomore at Temple University, directs cars at the city's coronavirus testing site next to Citizens Bank Park in South Philadelphia on Friday, March 20, 2020.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer

As the Philadelphia region prepares for a gradual reopening from the coronavirus shutdown, officials, health-care systems, pharmacies, and laboratories are working to increase the commonwealth’s testing capacity. Meanwhile, an increasing number of individuals are getting tested in the Philadelphia area.

Officials have advised that not everyone needs to be tested, and the capacity doesn’t yet exist for universal testing. But if you have coronavirus symptoms, which can include a dry cough and fever; are at high risk (age 65 and older, or immunocompromised); work on the front lines; or have been in contact with someone with the virus, you may be able to get a test near your home.

In most cases, however, you can’t just show up to a testing site, and some hospitals may accept referrals only from doctors in their networks.

If you think you need to be tested, call your primary care doctor first, if you have one. You may be able to schedule a virtual consultation. A medical professional can best evaluate symptoms and determine whether to refer you for a test, perhaps at one of the following sites.

Philadelphia

A full, constantly updating list of sites in the city can be found at www.phila.gov/covid-testing-sites.

  1. In Center City, Jefferson Health offers mobile coronavirus testing at 10th and Sansom Streets, in a lot across from its hospital. Patients with a referral from a Jefferson doctor may walk or drive up to the site from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

  2. In North Philadelphia, Temple Health offers coronavirus testing for people who meet certain criteria. They ask patients to call 215-707-6999 to see if they can be tested at one of their hospital campuses. You can also get tested at a new city-run site at Berks and 20th Street. Appointments can be made by calling 215-685-2933.

  3. In Northeast Philadelphia, Jefferson Health, Tower Health, Einstein Healthcare Network, Temple Health, and Vybe Urgent Care have testing options. Jefferson offers mobile testing for its patients in the Northeast; all Jefferson testing sites require referrals from Jefferson doctors. Tower Health, meanwhile, is assessing patients with coronavirus symptoms at 10050 Roosevelt Blvd. from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Patients are encouraged to arrive with a referral to expedite the process and allow them to bypass the initial assessment. Einstein patients can be tested by appointment only from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every weekday at 7131 Frankford Ave. Patients must first call their Einstein-affiliated doctor, be evaluated, and get a referral. Temple asked patients to call 215-707-6999 to see if they meet criteria for testing at one of their hospital campuses. You may be able to be tested at Vybe Urgent Care if you have serious symptoms and have spoken with a Vybe clinician in advance. Virtual visits can be set up at vybe.care/video-visits, or you can call the location at 267-376-7390.

  4. In Olney, Einstein Healthcare Network patients may be tested by appointment only from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays at 101 E. Olney Ave. Patients must first call their Einstein-affiliated doctor, be evaluated, and get a referral.

  5. In Port Richmond, Temple Health and Vybe Urgent Care offers coronavirus testing for people who meet certain criteria. They ask patients to call 215-707-6999 to see if they can be tested at one of their hospital campuses. You may be able to be tested at Vybe Urgent Care if you have serious symptoms and have spoken with a Vybe clinician in advance. Virtual visits can be set up at vybe.care/video-visits, or you can call the location at 215-999-3356.

  6. In Roxborough, you may be able to be tested at Vybe Urgent Care at 6060 Ridge Avenue if you have serious symptoms and have spoken with a Vybe clinician in advance. Virtual visits can be set up at vybe.care/video-visits, or you can call the location at 215-999-6060.

  7. In South Philadelphia, you may be able to be tested at Vybe Urgent Care at 1217 South Broad Street if you have serious symptoms and have spoken with a Vybe clinician in advance. Virtual visits can be set up at vybe.care/video-visits, or you can call the location at 215-999-1217.

  1. In Spring Garden, you may be able to be tested at Vybe Urgent Care at 1500 Spring Garden St if you have serious symptoms and have spoken with a Vybe clinician in advance. Virtual visits can be set up at vybe.care/video-visits, or you can call the location at 267-768-8288.

  2. In University City, you may be able to be tested at Vybe Urgent Care at 3550 Market Street if you have serious symptoms and have spoken with a Vybe clinician in advance. Virtual visits can be set up at vybe.care/video-visits, or you can call the location at 215-405-0701.

  3. In West Oak Lane, emergency responders and health-care workers, regardless of symptoms, can be tested in the Rite Aid parking lot at 7401 Ogontz Ave. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

  4. In West Kensington, Temple Health offers coronavirus testing for people who meet certain criteria. They ask patients to call 215-707-6999 to see if they can be tested at one of their hospital campuses.

  5. In West Philadelphia, there’s a Penn Medicine drive-through testing site open daily at 41st and Market Streets for patients referred by Penn doctors. A sign at the site indicated that patients with coronavirus symptoms and no referral would be assessed on a “case-by-case basis.” The testing is free, even to those who are uninsured. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is also offering drive-through testing for children at the Karabots Pediatric Care Center at 48th and Market Streets. Patients have to be referred by a medical professional or a state or county health department.

The Pennsylvania suburbs

A complete map of Pennsylvania’s testing sites can be found here: https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Symptoms-Testing.aspx

  1. In Abington, Jefferson Health has a coronavirus testing site at Abington-Jefferson Health at 1200 Old York Rd. Patients must be screened and referred to the site by an Abington-Jefferson Health physician.

  2. In Blue Bell, a coronavirus testing site is open at the Central Campus of the Montgomery County Community College, at 340 Dekalb Pike in Whitpain Township. The location does drive-through, self-swab testing by appointment only from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Eligible individuals include symptomatic people; people with a doctor’s referral or who have had direct contact with a positive case; and first responders and health-care workers who believe they may have been exposed. Appointments can be made at www.montcopa.org/COVID-19.

  3. In Doylestown, people referred by a member of the Doylestown Hospital medical staff can be tested at a drive-through facility from 8 a.m. to noon on weekdays outside the hospital at 595 W. State St.

  4. In Drexel Hill, Delaware County Memorial Hospital, 501 N. Lansdowne Ave., is doing drive-through testing for Crozer-Keystone patients who are referred by a doctor and preregister.

  5. In Gilbertsville, Tower Health is assessing patients and offering testing at 1050 E. Philadelphia Ave. from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. It recommends patients be screened by a doctor and get a referral. People who do so can be tested more quickly, bypassing the assessment area.

  6. In Havertown, you may be able to be tested at Vybe Urgent Care at 1305 West Chester Pike if you have serious symptoms and have spoken with a Vybe clinician in advance. Virtual visits can be set up at vybe.care/video-visits, or you can call the location at 610-482-4949.

  7. In Malvern, Tower Health is assessing patients and offering testing at 215 Lancaster Ave. from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. It recommends patients be screened by a doctor and get a referral. People who do so will be able to be tested more quickly, bypassing the assessment area.

  1. Across Montgomery County, patients of Holy Redeemer Health System can be tested at various ambulatory care centers if they are referred by a Holy Redeemer-affiliated doctor. Call 800-818-4747 for more information. Holy Redeemer doctors and other medical staff can be screened outsider the hospital in Meadowbrook.

  2. In Newtown Square, Main Line Health patients, who must have a referral, can get tested at a drive-through center outside the Main Line Health offices at 3855 West Chester Pike.

  3. In Plymouth Meeting, Tower Health is assessing patients and offering testing at 580 W. Germantown Pike from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. It recommends patients be screened by a doctor and get a referral. People who do so can be tested more quickly, bypassing the assessment area.

  1. In Radnor, Penn Medicine is offering drive-through testing. At the Penn site, which is across from its office at 250 King of Prussia Rd., patients referred by a Penn doctor can be tested. Like other Penn sites, testing is free, even for the uninsured.

  2. In Ridley, you may be able to be tested at Vybe Urgent Care at 213 Morton Avenue if you have serious symptoms and have spoken with a Vybe clinician in advance. Virtual visits can be set up at vybe.care/video-visits, or you can call the location at 610-285-9500.

  3. In Ridley Park, coronavirus testing will soon be available at Taylor Hospital, 175 E. Chester Pike, for Crozer-Keystone patients who are referred by a doctor and preregister.

  4. In Springfield, coronavirus testing will soon be available at Springfield Hospital, 190 W. Sproul Rd., for Crozer-Keystone patients who are referred by a doctor and preregister.

  5. In Upland, Crozer-Chester Medical Center, 1 Medical Center Blvd., is doing drive-through testing for Crozer-Keystone patients who are referred by a doctor and preregister.

  6. In Warminster, Tower Health is assessing patients and offering testing at 930 W. Street Rd. from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. It recommends patients be screened by a doctor and get a referral. People who do so can be tested more quickly, bypassing the assessment area.

  7. In Wayne, children and adults under age 27 can be tested at a PM Pediatrics Urgent Care drive-up testing site at 101 E. Swedesford Rd., next to Gateway Shopping Center. They ask that patients call, or schedule a virtual consultation online, and get a referral from a PM Pediatrics doctor before visiting.

South Jersey

A full list of the state’s testing sites can be found here: https://covid19.nj.gov/search.html?query=Testing+Centers+in+NJ

  1. In Blackwood, a drive-through testing is run by Jefferson Health and Camden County, and is open from noon to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday at the Camden County College campus, 200 College Dr., for first responders, essential employees, and Camden County residents.

  2. In Burlington Tonwship, patients can be tested at the Walmart on Mount Holly Road from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Appointments must be made in advance at www.MyQuestCOVIDTest.com.

  3. In Camden, Camden County residents can get tested at 2600 Mount Ephraim Avenue. In East Camden, they can get tested at Dudley Grange Park on the 3100 block of Federal Street. People can walk or drive to the two sites, but must make an appointment first and have a doctor’s referral. Appointments can be made by calling 856-968-7100 or 856-342-2881 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. -5 p.m.

  4. In Cherry Hill, mobile coronavirus testing is being offered at Jefferson Health and Cooper Health locations. Jefferson patients with a doctor’s referral can walk or drive to be tested from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at Jefferson Cherry Hill Hospital, 2201 Chapel Ave. W. Cooper Health patients can be tested at the ambulatory care center at 1210 Brace Rd. Both Jefferson and Cooper patients must have a doctor’s referral. Cooper patients must also preregister for an appointment.

  5. In Gloucester County, a coronavirus testing site is open at Rowan College of South Jersey, 1400 Tanyard Rd., Sewell, for symptomatic Gloucester County residents who make an appointment in advance by calling 856-218-4142.

  6. In Mount Laurel, patients can be tested at the Walmart on Route 73 from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Appointments must be made in advance at www.MyQuestCOVIDTest.com.

  7. In Stratford and Turnersville , Jefferson Health patients who have a referral from their doctor may be able to walk or drive up to testing sites at Jefferson sites in those areas.

Payment

Large health insurance companies and Medicare and Medicaid have said they will cover the cost of testing. Many states have mandated coverage with no co-pays or deductibles.

Useful numbers

Cooper Health patients can call 800-826-6737 or request an appointment online.

Crozer-Keystone patients can call the Crozer-Keystone Health System’s coronavirus hotline at 610-447-6730.

Jefferson Health patients can go to hospitals.jefferson.edu/jeffconnect.

Main Line Heath patients can call 866-225-5654.

Penn Medicine patients can call 215-615-2222 or use the MyPennMedicine app to inquire about testing or get additional information.

Tower Health patients can find more information on Tower Health’s website.

In Pennsylvania, residents with questions or concerns can call the Greater Philadelphia Coronavirus Helpline at 1-800-722-7112.

In New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy said residents can call 211 for questions and concerns about the coronavirus. He said residents can also still call the original COVID-19 hotline at 1-800-962-1253 or 1-800-222-1222. They can also text NJCOVID to 898-211 to receive updates on their phones.

Staff Writer Pranshu Verma contributed to this article.