Advertisement

Here’s where to get tested for COVID-19 in the Tampa Bay area

Each site has different hours and requirements.
 
Drive-thru testing for COVID-19 is taking place at Community Health Centers of Pinellas at Johnnie Ruth Clarke. According to an attendant, the site exceeded their walk-up slots by 6:30 a.m. and were now seeing only those who had made appointments ahead of time, on Friday, June 26, 2020 in St. Petersburg.
Drive-thru testing for COVID-19 is taking place at Community Health Centers of Pinellas at Johnnie Ruth Clarke. According to an attendant, the site exceeded their walk-up slots by 6:30 a.m. and were now seeing only those who had made appointments ahead of time, on Friday, June 26, 2020 in St. Petersburg. [ MARTHA ASENCIO RHINE | Times ]
Published June 26, 2020|Updated July 29, 2020

A number of public COVID-19 test sites have opened throughout the Tampa Bay area in the past couple months.

Most are a drive-thru style where people wait in their cars and a medical professional uses a long swab to collect a sample from the patient’s nose. Many are free, but some do require people provide insurance information or payment after the fact.

Drive-through testing for Covid-19 is taking place at Community Health Centers of Pinellas at Johnnie Ruth Clarke. According to an attendant, the site exceeded their walk-up slots by 6:30 a.m. and were now seeing only those who had made appointments ahead of time, on Friday, June 26, 2020 in St. Petersburg.
Drive-through testing for Covid-19 is taking place at Community Health Centers of Pinellas at Johnnie Ruth Clarke. According to an attendant, the site exceeded their walk-up slots by 6:30 a.m. and were now seeing only those who had made appointments ahead of time, on Friday, June 26, 2020 in St. Petersburg. [ MARTHA ASENCIO RHINE | Times ]

Several sites are requiring people to make appointments beforehand. Wait times for results vary, but range from three to 12 days based on the site, laboratory and current demand.

Here are the criteria, hours and protocol for each test site. This information will change depending on the supply of tests and the latest government orders. Providers with an asterisk operate in multiple counties.

Hillsborough County drive-thru test sites

Hours

Monday through Saturday, based on appointments

Locations

  • Raymond James Stadium, 4201 N Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa
  • Lee Davis Community Resource Center, 3402 N 22nd St., Tampa
  • Plant City Community Resource Center, 307 N Michigan Ave., Plant City
  • SouthShore Community Resource Center, 201 14th Ave. SE, Ruskin
  • Suncoast Community Health Centers, 313 S. Lakewood Drive, Brandon
  • Redeemer Lutheran Church, 701 Valley Forge Blvd., Sun City Center
  • Wimauma Opportunity Center, 5128 SR 674

Requirements

  • You must make an appointment in advance either online at www.hcflgov.net/covidtesting or call the county’s main information line at (813) 272-5900. Anyone who wants to get tested can get a test. The test is free. No doctor’s referral is needed, and insurance is not required.

Pinellas Department of Health drive-thrus

Hours

Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Location

Location provided once appointment is scheduled

Requirements

An appointment is required and can be made by calling 727-824-6900. The test is free to patients, regardless of insurance.

Pinellas Community Health Centers drive-thrus

Hours

Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to noon. Clearwater is by appointment only.

Locations

  • 707 East Druid Road, Clearwater
  • 7550 43rd Street North, Pinellas Park
  • 1344 22nd Street South, St. Petersburg

Requirements

Appointments are not required except for Clearwater, but can be made calling 727-824-8181 and selecting option 0 or visiting www.chcpinellas.org

Mahaffey Theater drive-thru

Hours

11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.

Keep up with Tampa Bay’s top headlines

Keep up with Tampa Bay’s top headlines

Subscribe to our free DayStarter newsletter

We’ll deliver the latest news and information you need to know every morning.

You’re all signed up!

Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.

Explore all your options

Location

Duke Energy for the Arts Mahaffey Theater parking garage, 400 First Street SE

Requirements

You need not be a Pinellas resident to get tested and no insurance information is necessary. Identification and a phone number will be requested. No appointments are being taken. Testing will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Manatee County drive-thru and walk-ups

Hours

Daily, 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.., or until daily supplies run out.

Locations

  • The Mall at University Town Center, 140 University Town Center Drive, Sarasota. Drive-thru.
  • Lincoln Park, 501 17th Street East, Palmetto. Walk-up.
  • Home Depot, 2350 Cortez Road, Bradenton. Walk-up.

Requirements

Testing is available to anyone older than 18, regardless of symptoms, and is free to the public. Children under 18 can be tested at the Lincoln Park site, which is open until 6 p.m. daily. The mall site tests a maximum of 750 people per day and may close earlier than 5 p.m. if that number is reached. The Lincoln Park site has a capacity of 200 per day; Home Depot, 100 a day.

*CVS self-swab drive-thrus

Hours

The sites typically operate from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., based on appointments.

Locations

  • 520 First Street W, Bradenton
  • 4302 Cortez Road W, Bradenton
  • 715 Brandon Blvd., Brandon
  • 1899 N Highland Ave., Clearwater
  • 1 South Missouri Ave., Clearwater
  • 20287 U.S. 19, Clearwater
  • 4000 East Bay Drive, Clearwater
  • 2175 Main Street, Dunedin
  • 5010 South Florida Ave., Lakeland
  • 8905 Bryan Dairy Road, Largo
  • 2322 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Lutz
  • 15129 Madeira Way, Madeira Beach
  • 3771 Tampa Road, Oldsmar
  • 5905 U.S. 301, Riverview
  • 8001 Ninth Street N, St. Petersburg
  • 7351 W Hillsborough Ave., Tampa
  • 8809 New Tampa Blvd., Tampa
  • 4401 W Gandy Blvd., Tampa
  • 2911 E Fowler Ave., Tampa
  • 5357 Ehrlich Road, Tampa
  • 4120 #2 Henderson Blvd., Tampa
  • 611 S Howard Ave., Tampa
  • 1000 E Tarpon Ave., Tarpon Springs

Requirements

CVS is making testing available to anyone experiencing symptoms who meets the requirements listed on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Patients must first book appointments by visiting CVS.com.

The Tampa Bay stores have the capacity to test up to 50 people a day. All testing will take place inside a person’s car. No walk-ups will be accepted and no testing will take place inside stores.

*BayCare Health Systems drive-thru test sites

Hours

8 a.m. to 11 a.m., Monday through Friday. The Polk site is only open Monday, Wednesday and Friday. All three sites will be closed Friday, July 3.

Locations

  • Pasco: Gulf High School, 5255 School Road, Port Richey.
  • Polk: Bartow Regional Medical Center, 2200 Osprey Blvd.
  • Pinellas: 1 Tropicana Drive, St. Petersburg. Hours will be 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. for the week of June 29 through July 2.

Requirements

A doctor’s referral is encouraged. If not, you will be screened while in line to see if you meet requirements from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For patients without insurance, the cost of the COVID-19 lab test is $85. Payment is not due at testing. BayCare is working with government agencies to secure funding for patients that are unable to pay.

• • •

Tampa Bay Times coronavirus coverage

HOW CORONAVIRUS IS SPREADING IN FLORIDA: Find the latest numbers for your county, city or zip code.

THE CORONAVIRUS SCRAPBOOK: We collected your stories, pictures, songs, recipes, journals and more to show what life has been like during the pandemic.

SO YOU WANT TO LEAVE YOUR HOUSE? Read these 10 tips first

UNEMPLOYMENT Q&A: We answer your questions about Florida unemployment benefits

GET THE DAYSTARTER MORNING UPDATE: Sign up to receive the most up-to-date information.

HAVE A TIP?: Send us confidential news tips

We’re working hard to bring you the latest news on the coronavirus in Florida. This effort takes a lot of resources to gather and update. If you haven’t already subscribed, please consider buying a print or digital subscription.