Information About COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus)

COVID-19 Testing Information

Seattle Children’s offers COVID-19 testing for patients ages 20 and younger for the following:

  • All patients staying at the hospital

    All patients staying at the hospital.

  • Patients with a planned surgery, procedure or hospital stay

    We require certain patients to get a COVID-19 test 2 days before their surgery or a planned hospital stay. This requirement also applies to most procedures. We will call you to help you schedule your testing time and place. If staying overnight at the hospital after a surgery or procedure, we will also require the parents or caregivers to be tested for COVID-19 in case the patient stays in a shared room.

    This test is a requirement for all patients and failing to get tested may result in the surgery or procedure being cancelled or postponed.

  • Patients with possible COVID-19 signs and symptoms

    If your child has signs and symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and you are only interested in having your child tested, please contact your child’s primary care provider for a referral or go to a COVID-19 testing site in the community. Please do not make an urgent care appointment or walk in to get a test at Seattle Children’s hospital or clinics.

    You may also schedule an Urgent Care visit and we can check your child’s symptoms. We may order a COVID-19 test during the visit.

    Please do not walk in to get a test at Seattle Children’s hospital or other clinics (except Urgent Care).

    Seattle Children’s Emergency Department is NOT a COVID-19 testing site.

  • Patients coming to Seattle Children’s for a visit who screen positive for possible exposure to COVID-19

    Upon arrival at Seattle Children’s hospital and clinics, patients and families are asked screening questions for signs of illness. Based on their responses, we may conduct further screening and/or COVID-19 testing of the patient. Some patients are tested before their clinic appointment or hospital stay. Contact your child’s provider if they develop a new illness like fever, cough or runny nose before their scheduled visit.

  • Patients who are not coming to Seattle Children’s but have had close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19

    A close contact is someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes in a 24-hour period. Please contact your child’s primary care provider for a referral or go to a COVID-19 testing center in the community. It is best to test 5 days after the exposure to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 or once symptoms develop. Testing immediately after an exposure is not advised since there can be false positive tests.

How to Get a Referral for a COVID-19 Test

If your child needs a COVID-19 test, please contact your primary care provider to schedule a visit. You may also schedule an Urgent Care visit at one of our testing locations below. We will check your child’s symptoms and may order a COVID-19 test during the visit.

Please do not walk in to get a test at Seattle Children’s hospital or other clinics. Seattle Children’s Emergency Department and Urgent Care clinics are NOT COVID-19 testing sites.

Referring providers, learn more about ordering a COVID-19 test.

How to Schedule a COVID-19 Test

Once you have a referral or test order confirmed from your primary care provider, call our COVID-19 call center and test scheduling line at 206-987-2100 to make an appointment. If you use a language other than English, call our family interpreting line at 1-866-583-1527 and ask the interpreter to connect you to the COVID-19 call center at 206-987-2100.

The call center is staffed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. (Please note: The call center may not be available on federal holidays.) Families who call after-hours or on Sunday may leave a message and receive a call back within 48 hours.  

Testing Location, Hours and Contact Information

Before going to any of the testing sites listed below, first make sure you have gotten a referral and the appointment has been scheduled. The COVID-19 call center will provide the location where you should receive your test unless you are otherwise directed by the surgery center or your child’s provider. 

Current testing location includes:

Seattle Children’s Main Campus (Ocean 8 parking lot drive-through testing)

4800 Sand Point Way NE
Seattle, WA 98105

Hours: Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed 11:30am-12:30pm for lunch)

Our Urgent Care location in Seattle is open 7 days a week, including holidays.

  • Monday through Friday: 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
  • Saturday and Sunday: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Our Urgent Care locations in Bellevue, Everett, Federal Way are open 7 days a week, including holidays.

  • Monday through Friday: 4 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
  • Saturday and Sunday: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Map and directions for Bellevue, Everett, Federal Way and Seattle.

Learn more about Testing and Follow-Up for COVID-19.

What to Expect at Your COVID-19 Testing Appointment

  • At Main Campus Ocean 8 parking lot drive-through testing: Patients and families should remain in their car and pull into the clearly marked designated testing lane. All car occupants should wear a mask, if possible. A greeter will approach the car to ask about the family’s symptoms and provide instructions. Our drive-through option is ideal for families who need to bring more than 1 child.

Cost of COVID-19 Testing

COVID-19 testing at Seattle Children’s is not free. Many insurance companies, including Medicaid, currently cover COVID-19 testing costs in full. Insurance processes change over time and you could have an amount to pay after insurance is billed.

  • If you are insured, we will bill your insurance. Please contact your insurance provider to learn about COVID-19 testing coverage.
  • If you do not have any form of insurance, you will be billed for the cost of the test but we will apply a 25% discount to the cost. You can also apply for Financial Assistance online at seattlechildrens.org/clinics/paying-for-care/financial-assistance or by calling 206-987-3333. Additionally, free or lower cost testing may be available at alternative locations in the community.
  • If you schedule an Urgent Care visit when you only need a COVID-19 test, you may receive bills for an Urgent Care doctor visit and clinic facility charge.

To find free COVID-19 testing in the community, visit 1 of the COVID-19 testing resources listed in the section below. 

COVID-19 Testing in the Community

Visit the following websites to find COVID-19 testing sites in the community, including free testing sites: