COVID-19

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Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division
651-201-5414
IDEPC Comment Form

Contact Info

Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division
651-201-5414
IDEPC Comment Form

COVID-19 Community Testing

On this page:
Available to all
Tests are free
Insurance not required
Tests offered
Disabled or need assistance
More information
Community testing site locations

People in Minnesota who would like COVID-19 treatment without having to go to a clinic or testing site can use the state's COVID-19 Telehealth Program. Visit Cue Health to learn more or get started.

Available to all

Community testing sites are available to all people living in Minnesota at no cost to them. Anyone can get tested for COVID-19 at these sites – with or without insurance. All sites take extra care to keep the virus from spreading.

Appointments and walk-ins are available at community testing sites listed below or Search for No-Cost COVID-19 Testing to find a test near you.

In-person translation and/or Language Line (phone) interpreter assistance is available at all community testing sites. Some testing sites have COVID-19 Community Coordinators to help guide people through the testing process. You can connect with a COVID-19 Community Coordinator at any time for testing help: COVID-19 Community Coordinator Search.

Tests are free

All costs for tests at these community testing sites are covered by your insurance company or the federal or state government. Do not pay your insurance company or the testing provider for your COVID-19 test. There is no cost to you for this test. Insurance companies may send you an Explanation of Benefits or "EOB" showing the difference between the billed cost of this COVID-19 test and what they have paid. It may even say that a portion is "patient responsibility." This is simply for your information. It is not a bill, and you should NOT pay anything.

Insurance not required

Testing is available at these community testing sites for anyone who believes they need a COVID-19 test, with or without insurance. Participants will be asked for their health insurance information so their insurance company can be billed. If a person does not have health insurance or for any reason insurance does not cover some or all of the cost, the costs will be covered and the person will not have to pay.

Tests offered

Community testing sites offer Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) saliva tests, at-home antigen nasal swab tests (also called "self-tests"), or both. If those testing options are not right for you, contact your doctor for other testing options or Search for No-Cost COVID-19 Testing near you.

  • The most accurate test.
  • You need only one test. You do not need to repeat the test.
  • This is the usual test given in a clinic or hospital.
  • Results may take a couple of days because these tests must be sent to a laboratory.
  • Do not eat, drink, or smoke 60 minutes before taking a saliva test.

  • Tests that take a sample of liquid from your nose are called nasal swab tests. The kind of tests that you take at home (self-tests) are usually rapid antigen nasal swab tests.
  • Positive results are very accurate and reliable. However, in general, antigen tests are less likely to detect the virus than PCR tests, especially when you don't have symptoms.
  • If the test is positive, you do not need to test again.
  • To be confident you do not have COVID-19, the CDC and FDA currently recommend two negative antigen tests for people with symptoms or three antigen tests for those without symptoms, performed 48 hours apart. A single PCR test can also be used to confirm an antigen test result. Visit COVID-19 Testing: What You Need to Know | CDC for the CDC and FDA antigen testing recommendations.
  • Self-tests are available to be picked up at some community testing sites.
  • Check with our COVID-19 Community Coordinators (CCC) program to see if they have free self-tests available.

Safety of in-person test

Minnesota understands the importance of safe testing facilities. If you have any symptoms, please wear a mask. You are encouraged to make an appointment to prevent crowding and long lines, but walk-ins are welcomed as well.

Disabled or need assistance

To request an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodation or other accessibility needs for testing or vaccination sites, contact the site directly using the contact information listed below.

If you prefer a language besides English, please contact the testing site to make a request. Languages spoken at each site are listed below. Otherwise, Language Line translators may be available.

More information

Community testing site locations

Minneapolis - Phyllis Wheatley Community Center

1301 North 10th Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55411
Saliva
Monday - Thursday: 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Closed on Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving
Walk-ins for testing are accepted
Before taking a PCR test: No food/drink for 60 minutes; No water for 30 minutes
For more information about testing, contact the Minnesota Black Community COVID-19 Hotline at 612-254-1145.
Visit the Phyllis Wheatley Community Center for information about community vaccinations.

St. Cloud - Center for African Immigrants and Refugees Organization (CAIRO)*

3333 West Division Street, Suite 122A
St. Cloud, MN 56301
Saliva
Monday - Friday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Closed on Labor Day
Appointments and walk-in appointments available
Phone number: 320-281-3232

Minneapolis - Somali Community Resettlement Services (SCRS)

Gale Mansion
2115 Stevens Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55404
Saliva
Monday - Thursday: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Closed on Labor Day
Appointments and walk-in appointments available
Self-test pick up available
Monday - Friday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m
Phone number: 612-353-6380

Minneapolis – African Immigrants Community Services (AICS)

1433 East Franklin Ave, Unit 13B
Minneapolis, MN 55404
Saliva
Monday - Thursday: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Appointments and walk-in appointments available
For assistance or questions, please call: 612-443-8806 or 612-443-8941

St. Paul – Hmong American Partnership (HAP)

1075 Arcade Ave
St. Paul, MN 55106
Saliva Drive-thru Testing
Wednesday: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Self-test pick up available
Appointments recommended. Walk-ins are welcome
Drive-thru Instructions:
Please enter from Cook Ave and Arcade Ave.
Any questions or concerns call HAP’s COVID Hotline at 651-304-6236

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Last Updated: 08/30/2023