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1. How much does testing cost? What if I don't have insurance?

The COVID-19 test through Clay County’s mobile test site is free for everyone. Even those with insurance are not billed.

2. Can I get tested even if I don't have symptoms?

At the Clay County Public Health Center test site, yes, you can be eligible for a test even if you are not currently experiencing any symptoms. However, our staff may prioritize appointments for those with symptoms.

3. Are there any age restrictions on testing?

At the CCPHC drive-through test site, no. We are currently testing all ages.

From Children’s Mercy: Preparing Your Child for a COVID-19 Test

4. What kind of test is this?

The COVID-19 test offered at the Clay County test site is nasopharyngeal (through the nose) and administered by one of our health care professionals. It tests if you are currently infected with COVID-19.  

5. How can I get an antibody test?

The Clay County Public Health Center test site does not offer antibody/serology tests at this time. These tests can tell if have previously been infected with the virus. 

Antibody testing in Clay County:

• NextCare Urgent Care (Liberty)
• Bridge Interactive Medicine (Gladstone)
• Quest Diagnostics
• American Red Cross

Learn more about testing for past infection, including the reliability of such tests, from the CDC and FDA.

6. Do I have to make an appointment?

Yes, everyone must first fill out the Testing Questionnaire on our website and set up an appointment with a member of our staff. Anyone who arrives at the test site (located at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church) without an appointment will be asked to fill out the questionnaire and return at their appointed time.

7. How soon will I be contacted after submitting my appointment request?

Testing is prioritized based on availability. If testing is available for you, health department staff will be in contact with you as soon as possible to schedule an appointment. We are registering testing requests in the order they are received, and are working diligently to contact everyone within 24 hours. However, depending on the volume of requests at any given time, that timeframe could be up to 72 hours. Also note that appointments are not scheduled during the weekend.

Please watch your phone and email closely, allowing unknown calls and checking your spam folders. When scheduling your appointment, staff will give you more information, including where to go for the drive-thru testing and what the process looks like.

If you are unable to wait for a return call and we have exceeded 24 hours, please consider contacting your primary care physician or pursue another testing option from the list on our website.

8. If I walk in to the health center, can I get a test?

No. Our drive-thru COVID-19 test site is not located at the health center and we are not administering any tests at the health center. Also, we are not currently accepting walk-ins for testing. You must fill out the Testing Questionnaire and make an appointment with our staff.

9. When is the test site open? How many tests does it do per day?

The Clay County Public Health Center’s drive-thru test site runs every Monday through Friday. We do not test over the weekend or on holidays.

Currently, the site is able to do about 75 tests per day, although this number can vary based on available test kits.

10. How soon will I get my results back?

Our typical turnaround time for results is 1 to 5 days and you will hear from CCPHC either by phone or email. Test specimens are processed by the University of Kansas Hospital.

11. How can I donate plasma as someone who has recovered from COVID-19?

Thanks for your interest! The state health department has more info and resources for this on their website: https://health.mo.gov/living/healthcondiseases/communicable/novel-coronavirus/plasma-donations.php.