Ga. Public Health Districts & Augusta University Offering Free COVID-19 Testing

Individuals wanting to be tested can contact any Georgia public health department* to schedule an appointment at a Point Of Care location convenient to them (see below).  Also, Augusta University launched an app available on both Apple and Android phones called the AU Health ExpressCare app. Its role is to facilitate that first conversation with a healthcare provider.  

*Testing done at DPH sites is by nasopharyngeal swabs. No throat or saliva tests.

Dept. Public Health (DPH) Testing for Pediatric Patients Is Available:

The Dept of Public Health has many testing sites around the state with the capacity to test pediatric patients. Follow these steps: 

1. go to www.dph.ga.gov. 

2. Scroll down to “Find Covid-19 Testing.”  

3. Since all tests require a prior appointment, click on “Call for COVID Testing” and find the location in your county. These numbers will link to local county health department telephone numbers.  

4. Call this number and make an appointment for a test. (Parents can do this.) Make sure you tell them it is for a pediatric patient, so they can have the proper equipment and personnel available.  

5. The health department staff will set the appointment for the patient and direct the patient to the nearest site that can do their test.

Additional Notes: 

1. There is also a listing of “GA Testing Sites” on the website but this list won’t contain all DPH sites, since some are “pop-up” sites and may be temporary.  That is why the call is the critical first step. 

2. The National Guard and private labs have also set up testing sites. It is not recommended by DPH to use these sites for specimen collection for pediatric patients.