COVID-19 Testing

You should get tested for COVID-19 if the following are true:

• You have symptoms of COVID-19. Get tested even if you are up-to-date on your COVID-19 vaccines.
• You have come into close contact with someone with COVID-19. Get tested at least five days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19. The date of the last close contact is day 0.
• You are not up-to-date with your COVID-19 vaccines and have been prioritized for expanded community screening for COVID-19.
• You were asked or referred to get testing by your:
  • school,
  • workplace,
  • health care provider, or
  • state, tribal, local or territorial health department.
• You are traveling (get tested before and after travel).

More Information from the CDC on Testing for Current Infection

If you were exposed to COVID-19, your next steps vary based on your COVID-19 vaccination status.  

If you are up-to-date on your COVID-19 vaccinations:  

• You do not need to stay home unless you develop symptoms.  
• If you develop symptoms, isolate immediately and get tested.  
• Get tested at least five days after your exposure, even if you don’t develop symptoms.  

If you are NOT up-to-date on your COVID-19 vaccinations:  

• Stay home and quarantine for at least five full days.   
• Wear a well-fitting mask if you must be around others in your home.   
• If you develop symptoms, isolate immediately and get tested.  
• Get tested at least five days after your exposure, even if you don’t develop symptoms.  
• Watch for symptoms until 10 days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19. 

Yes. Anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19 or has been exposed to COVID-19 should get tested as soon as possible. Testing helps locate virus transmission in North Carolina’s communities. Knowing where COVID-19 spread is high allows us to take action to protect one another.

Yes. If you don’t have health insurance:  

• The NC Medicaid Optional COVID-19 (MCV) Testing Program may help pay for COVID-19 testing costs.
  • To be eligible, you must:
    • Live in North Carolina
    • Be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national or have eligible immigration status
    • Not be covered by Medicaid, Medicare or other health insurance
  • To apply, complete an application online
• Go to a specified Keystone Laboratories Inc. testing location.

Rapid Point-of-Care tests: 

• Are given by someone other than the person getting tested. 
• Take minutes to test and get results. 
• Can include antigen and some NAATs, a type of diagnostic test. 

At-Home tests: 

• Are also called self tests. 
• Are a type of rapid antigen test taken at home or anywhere. 
• Are easy to use and provide rapid results. 

Laboratory tests: 

• May take between six and 72 hours for results. 
• Include PCR tests. 

Some employers may choose to set up COVID-19 testing. This testing is part of their efforts to protect employees. Please reach out to your employer if you want to learn more about testing at your workplace with Keystone Laboratories Inc.

Test result times vary: 

• Point-of-Care tests may have results available at the testing site in less than an hour. 
• Rapid home tests give results in minutes. 
• Other tests, like PCR collection kits, must go to a lab. Results may take a few hours to a few days.  

When you get tested, talk with the provider or a Keystone Laboratories Inc. representative about how long it will take to get your results.

It depends. 

If you have symptoms or were exposed to someone with COVID-19, stay home and avoid others. 

If you do not have symptoms and were not exposed, you do not need to stay home unless your employer or a health provider told you to do so.  

Visit the NC DHHS Page for What to Do If You Feel Sick page for more information. 

Follow current CDC quarantine and isolation guidelines if:

• You were tested because you have symptoms. 
• A health care provider thinks you have COVID-19, even with a negative test. 
• You were tested because of known contact with someone who has COVID-19. 

You can resume regular activities if: 

• You were tested for another reason, like workplace screening. 
• You do not have known or suspected contact with someone who has COVID-19. 
• You have no symptoms. 

If you test positive, stay away from others and follow the CDC’s isolation guidelines. Seek medical care immediately if you have trouble breathing or experience other warning signs.