COVID-19 testing in greater Houston area: how and where
The greater Houston area has several operating coronavirus COVID-19 testing sites. But many people with symptoms still do not know the process to get tested.
There are public testing sites and private sites. Some are free of charge, others cost a fee or bill a patient's insurance.
THE LATEST: COVID-19 cases in the greater Houston area
No matter what, people with COVID-19 symptoms should first contact their family doctor and/or take a pre-screening test before heading to a testing site.
Typical symptoms include fever, cough or difficulty breathing. If you are experiencing a health emergency, and not just symptoms, you should call 911.
High-risk people are defined as those who are older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions.
Advertisement
FREE
United Memorial Medical Center
United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC) will offer weekday testing at five drive-thru test sites at:
- Plaza Americas Mall, 7500 Bellaire Blvd.
- Houston Community College-Southeast, 6815 Rustic
- UMMC Tidwell, 510 W. Tidwell Rd.
- Forest Brook Middle School, 7525 Tidwell Rd.
- Cullen Middle School, 6900 Scott St.
The sites don’t require appointments and offer testing from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. or until reaching a daily capacity of 250 tests.
UMMC will offer drive-thru testing at St. Philip of Jesus Catholic Church, 9700 Villita St., Saturday, Oct. 3, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
People needing information about UMMC test sites can call 1-866-333-COVID or visit ummcscreening.com.
Houston Health Department
The Houston Health Department, in partnership with the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services and the State of Texas, will offer testing at its Southwest Multi-Service Center, 6400 High Star Drive. The site has a 1,250 daily test capacity and will open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Appointments are available at doineedacovid19test.com. On-site registration is also available.
The department also offers free drive-thru testing at two other mega sites in Houston:
- Delmar Stadium, 2020 Mangum Rd., and
- Butler Stadium, 13755 S. Main St.
Each site will open Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. or until reaching daily capacity of 650 tests.
People wanting to get tested at Delmar Stadium can call the department’s COVID-19 Call Center at 832-393-4220 between 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. to receive an access code. Butler Stadium doesn’t require an access code, commonly referred to as an appointment.
The department will also offer drive thru testing at three other multi-service centers Sept. 29 – Oct. 3. The sites don’t require appointments and open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. or until reaching its daily capacity of 250 tests:
- Acres Homes Multi-Service Center, 6719 W. Montgomery Rd.,
- Denver Harbor Multi-Service Center, 6402 Market St., and
- Hiram Clark Multi-Service Center, 3810 W. Fuqua St.
The department will set up a testing at the Multicultural Center, 951 Tristar Drive, City of Webster, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 29 – Oct. 3. Appointments are available by calling the department’s call center.
Texas Division of Emergency Management
Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) and the Houston Astros offer free COVID-19 tests daily at Minute Maid Park (Lot C), 2208 Preston. The testing site’s capacity is 2,000 tests per day.
The site features evening hours twice a week, eight drive-thru testing lanes and four walk-up testing lanes. It opens 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday through Wednesday and from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Spanish-speaking staff is available on-site.
Visit texas.curativeinc.com to set an appointment or obtain more information. On-site registration is also available.
TDEM and the department will also operate three weekday drive-thru testing sites at:
- LeRoy Crump Stadium, 12321 High Star Drive,
- HCC - Northeast Campus, 555 Community College Drive, and
- HCC - South Campus, 1990 Airport Blvd.
TDEM sites require appointments, available by visiting txcovidtest.org.
Sites that also open on Saturday are HCC - Northeast and HCC - South Campus. Saturday appointments are available at texas.curativeinc.com
Harris County Public Health
Testing is free at 10 HCPH testing sites this week. The sites are open from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Officials say you should get your results in 1-3 days. Children can also be tested at these sites. Register at www.hcphtx.org or call 832-927-7575.
- M.O. Campbell Education Center - 1865 Aldine Bender Rd, Houston, 77032
Open Monday, Sept 28-Saturday, Oct 3
- St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church - 11011 Hall Rd, Houston, TX 77089
Closed Tuesday, September 29
- La Iglesia Del Pueblo - 1600 Pasadena Blvd, Pasadena, TX 77502
Closed Wednesday, September 30
- Centro Cristiano Monte Hermon - 8811 Synott Rd, Houston, TX 77083
Closed Thursday, October 1
- Klein Multipurpose Center - 7500 Farm to Market 2920, Klein, TX 77379
Closed Friday, October 2
- University Baptist Church - 16106 Middlebrook Dr, Houston, TX 77059
Closed Saturday, October 3
- Crosby Community Center - 409 Hare Rd, Crosby, TX 77532
Open Monday & Tuesday, Sept 28-29
- Lee College - 200 Lee Dr, Baytown, TX 77520
Open Wednesday & Thursday, Sept 30-Oct 1
- Christia V Adair Park - 15107 Cullen Blvd, Houston, 77047
Open Saturday, October 3
Surge Testing is still being offered at the site in Pasadena, San Jacinto College Central Campus. People must be 13 or older to be tested. Hours are 6am-1pm Monday-Saturday and 4-8pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Register for the Pasadena site at www.doineedacovid19test.com or call 832-927-7575. Get your voucher ID, which is required for testing, and keep the username and password you signed up with to get your test results.
Ibn Sina Foundation
The Iba Sina Foundation offers free tests with rapid results at two of its clinics, 5012 N. Shepherd Dr. and 11226 S. Wilcrest Dr.
Appointments for the Shepherd location are available by calling 832-426-3760 and appointments for the Wilcrest location are available at 281-495-7462.
Federally Qualified Health Centers
The health department is providing test kits, lab access, and equipment to local Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) so they can expand their COVID-19 testing capacity. The centers and phone numbers people can call to set up testing appointments are:
- HOPE Clinic: 713-773-0803
- Spring Branch Community Health Center, 713-462-6565
- El Centro de Corazon, 713-660-1880
- Avenue 360 Health and Wellness, 713-426-0027
- Lone Star Circle of Care at the University of Houston, 346-348-1200
- Scarsdale Family Health Center: 281-824-1480
FQHC patients pay what they can afford, based on income and family size, and are not denied services due to inability to pay or lack of insurance.
The department and its agency partners may shift locations and schedules of test sites to better meet community needs. Houstonians can visit HoustonEmergency.org/covid19 for current Houston testing sites and information about stopping the spread of the virus.
Information obtained through testing, treatment, or services will not be used against immigrants in their public charge evaluation.
Same day and next day appointments are avaiable at testing locations in Richmond, Katy, Stafford and Sugar Land. Testing is available for everyone, symptoms or not. To schedule an appointment visit FBCHealth.org or call (281)238-2363.
Galveston County is partnering with UTMB to offer free COVID-19 testing for Galveston County residents. Testing is available by appointment only and free to the public. County residents may schedule an appointment by calling (832)632-6731. A government issued form of identification will be required at the time of testing to verify residency.
AT-A-COST
Beyond the free testing, there are quite a few other coronavirus testing locations that will charge a fee that may be covered by insurance.
Next Level Urgent Care offers testing for COVID-19. They are testing symptomatic patients for COVID-19 upon the recommendation of one of their healthcare providers. To be evaluated for testing, you can make an appointment for a virtual visit or get in line at a clinics.
UTMB Health
Patients with symptoms of respiratory illness, including cough, fever or shortness of breath, should contact the UTMB Health Access Center at 800-917-8906 to speak with our 24/7 nurse hotline. The nurse hotline will advise the patient on what to do next, including the most appropriate clinic location for evaluation, if needed. Once a patient arrives at the recommended location, they will be seen by a provider and likely given a flu test. If the flu test is positive, the patient will be treated for flu as appropriate. If the flu test is negative, the provider will recommend whether a COVID-19 test is warranted.
Memorial Hermann
Memorial Hermann eVisit provides two easy ways to connect online 24/7 with a Memorial Hermann Urgent Care provider to receive diagnoses and treatment plans. Visit website for screening: memorialhermann.org/virtual-care/evisit/ Within 30 minutes, a provider will review your answers and respond with a diagnosis and treatment plan. The cost is $25. If you are told to take a COVID-19 test, they will tell you where to go. Your COVID-19 test results should be available within 7-14 days. Memorial Hermann will call you if your test is positive.
HOUSTON
Federally Qualified Health Centers
The health department is providing test kits, lab access and equipment to local Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) so they can expand their COVID-19 testing capacity. The centers and phone numbers people can call to set up testing appointments are:
• HOPE Clinic: 713-773-0803
• Spring Branch Community Health Center, 713-462-6565
• El Centro de Corazon, 713-660-1880
• Avenue 360 Health and Wellness, 713-426-0027
• Lone Star Circle of Care at the University of Houston, 346-348-1200, and
• Scarsdale Family Health Center: 281-824-1480.
FQHC patients pay what they can afford, based on income and family size, and are not denied services due to inability to pay or lack of insurance.
Legacy Community Health in Houston
All nine Legacy Community Health offer COVID-19 testing for symptomatic people determined to be at-risk. People may visit legacycommunityhealth.org or call 832-548-5000 to be screened. Legacy offers testing on a sliding fee scale, and the clinic bills insurance companies for those who are covered.
• Legacy Bissonnet, 12667 Bissonnet
• Legacy Fifth Ward, 3811 Lyons Ave.
• Legacy Mapleridge, 6550 Mapleridge St.
• Legacy Montrose, 1415 California St.
• Legacy Northline, 5598-A1 North Freeway
• Legacy San Jacinto, 4301 Garth Suite 400, Baytown
• Legacy Santa Clara (East End), 5616 Lawndale St.
• Legacy Sharpstown, 6677 Rookin
• Legacy Southwest, 6441 High Star Dr.
My Family Doctor
My Family Doctor has a drive-thru testing site at 6430 Hillcroft Street open Monday through Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. This site is currently cash-only and limited to high-risk people with symptoms. People can visit the My Family Doctor website at covid19drivethru.com for more information.
MD Medical Group
Clinicas Mi Doctor and MD Kids Pediatrics, two Houston MD Medical Group clinics, offer drive-thru COVID-19 testing by appointment. People can request an appointment by calling or texting 888-776-5252, or visiting mdmedicalgroup.us.
FORT BEND COUNTY
OakBend Medical Group
The initial criteria for the COVID-19 testing will require a Telehealth visit. People should call 281-238-7870. Patients will be screened for criteria that suggest a possible positive COVID-19.
BRAZORIA COUNTY
Care Prime Clinic
15030 Hwy 6, Rosharon, Texas 77583
832-400-2050
Options Urgent Care
208 Oak Dr. S., Lake Jackson, Texas 77566
979-285-2273
Houston Methodist Emergency Care Center Pearland
11525 Broadway St, Pearland, TX 77584
713-363-8020
Next Level Urgent Care Pearland
281-783-8162
8325 Broadway St, Suite 220, Pearland, Texas 77581
UTMB Health Access Center
136 E Hospital Dr., Angleton 77515
979-849-6467
After hours: 409-772-2222
Community Health Network
The locations are income based and you must be pre-screened before you can be tested. For prescreening call 281-824-1480 (Press 2).
Locations:
• Freeport Community Health Center 905 N. Gulf Blvd., Freeport, Texas 77541
• Adoue Family Health Center 1111 W. Adoue, Alvin, Texas 77511
• Scarsdale Family Health Center 10851 Scarsdale Blvd. Suite 160, Houston, TX 77089
• Brazoria County Fairgrounds 901 S. Downing St., Angleton, Texas 77515