COVID-19 Testing Update
Beacon continues to monitor the availability of COVID-19 rapid tests and our community’s demand for testing.
Test result times may vary depending on resources available. More about COVID-19 testing cost.
If you get tested because you have symptoms or were potentially exposed to the virus, you should stay away from others pending your results and follow the advice of your health care provider or a public health professional.
If you don’t require immediate medical care but need to be tested for COVID-19, contact your doctor’s office or visit coronavirus.in.gov for free testing sites. More about Coronavirus care options.
Frequently asked questions
Who
Who should be tested for COVID-19?
The CDC recommends the following people should get tested for COVID-19:
- People who have symptoms of COVID-19.
- People who have come into close contact with someone with COVID-19 should be tested to check for infection at least 5 days after they last had close contact with someone with COVID-19. The date of the last close contact is considered day 0.
- People not fully vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccine who have been asked or referred to get testing by their school, workplace, healthcare provider, state, tribal, local or territorial health department.
Who does not need to be tested for COVID-19?
The CDC advises that the following people who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 do not need to get tested if they do not have COVID-19 symptoms:
- People who have tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 3 months and recovered, as long as they do not develop new symptoms, do not need to get tested.
See the “Where” and “How” sections below for testing information. You may also contact your doctor’s office or visit your state’s COVID-19 health department website.
Positive test
If you test positive for the virus that causes COVID-19, the CDC recommends taking the following steps to protect others regardless of your COVID-19 vaccination status:
- Isolate for at least 5 days. You can end isolation after 5 full days if you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved (Loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery and need not delay the end of isolation). Day 0 is your first day of symptoms. You can also use a test-based strategy to end isolation.
- If you test positive for COVID-19 and never develop symptoms, isolate for at least 5 days and wear a well-fitting mask around others at home and in public for an additional 5 days. Day 0 is the day the sample was collected for a positive test result.
- Wear a well-fitting mask around others at home and in public for 5 additional days after the end of your 5-day isolation period. Take additional precautions on days 6-10, such as avoiding travel and situations where you will come in contact with individuals at high risk for severe disease. If you are unable to wear a mask when around others, you should continue to isolate for 10 days.
- Follow CDC’s recommendations for isolation.
- Contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible if you are more likely to get very sick because of being an older adult or having underlying medical conditions or if your symptoms get worse.
Talk to your healthcare provider or local health department to find out how long to isolate if you:
- Are severely ill with COVID-19 or have a weakened immune system;
- Had a positive test result followed by a negative result; or
- Test positive for many weeks after the initial result.
Negative test
If you test negativefor the virus that causes COVID-19, the virus was not detected.
If you have symptoms of COVID-19:
- You may have received a false negative test result and still might have COVID-19. You should isolate away from others.
- Contact your healthcare provider about your symptoms, especially if they worsen, about follow-up testing, and how long to isolate.
If you do not have symptoms of COVID-19, and you were a close contact to someone with COVID-19:
- You are likely not infected, but you still may get sick.
- Quarantine if you are not vaccinated or have not completed a primary vaccine series, or if you have not received all recommended booster shots.
- If symptoms develop during home quarantine, contact your healthcare provider about follow-up testing; and
- Isolate at home separated away from others.
If you do not have symptoms of COVID-19 and do not have a known exposure to a person with COVID-19:
- You do not need to quarantine.
Learn more from the CDC:
Where
I'm a Beacon patient experiencing symptoms or having been exposed. Where can I be tested?
Beacon patients, please contact your primary care provider. Your provider will screen you and, if needed, order a COVID-19 test. Your order will be sent to the nearest testing location.
I'm a patient needing pre-surgery testing. Where can I be tested?
Contact the provider performing your procedure/surgery to arrange testing. Our MedPoint Main Street location is accepting presurgical testing for patients. Appointments required; Schedule a pre-surgery COVID test
I am not a Beacon patient. I have symptoms or have been exposed. Where can I be tested?
Non-Beacon patients can be tested at various community sites.
If you have respiratory symptoms or believe you have COVID-19, please schedule a visit through Save My Spot. Sick people who are seen by our providers at our MedPoint locations can be tested and treated for COVID-19 as needed. Beacon doesn’t offer walk-in COVID-19 tests at this time.
COVID-19 symptoms include congestion, runny nose, fever, cough, shortness of breath, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat or other respiratory symptoms.
I am not a Beacon patient and I don't have any symptoms or exposure, but I need a travel test. Where can I be tested?
Our MedPoint Main Street location is accepting pretravel rapid testing by appointment only; Schedule a pretravel COVID test.
You may also contact your doctor’s office or visit coronavirus.in.gov (IN) or michigan.gov/covidvaccine (MI) for testing sites.
How
How much do COVID-19 tests cost?
COVID-19 test prices vary by location and type. View Beacon's COVID-19 testing prices here.
How else can I get a COVID-19 test?
To find other COVID-19 testing sites, visit the ISDH testing page for Indiana residents and the SOM testing page for Michigan residents.
How will I get my results?
Your results will be sent to the provider who ordered the test. Adult patients may also view their results on MyBeacon patient portal or Three Rivers Health patient portal.