This is another option for people within Santa Barbara County to get tested for COVID-19. The testing sites and test administration will be managed by the State of California.

No. This will be another option for people to get tested, in addition to existing testing options which include primary care medical sites, urgent care, hospitals, and the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department.  This option will enhance testing availability within Santa Barbara County.

If you have health insurance, they will be billed. Your information will not be shared with your insurance company, primary care physician or other providers without your permission. However, you should work with your primary care physician to make decisions about your health care.

There is no out-of-pocket expense or co-pay. If you have health insurance they will be billed.

Testing sites are located throughout Santa Barbara in the North, Mid, and South County regions.

Testing is a two-step process: screening and testing. When you go online or call to schedule your appointment, you will answer a few questions to determine your eligibility.  If eligible, you will be given an authorization number and an appointment time. You will come in on the day you are scheduled and get tested. Tests will be conducted using a nasal swab.

Anyone who is experiencing symptoms, has been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19, lives or works in a congregate setting, or who is an essential worker should get tested.

In addition, the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department (PHD) is now encouraging all community members to be tested

Everyone is eligible to be tested.

Appointment times will vary.  

No, tests are by appointment only.

More testing sites may be added at different regions in the county. Please check back to see when additional testing sites and appointments may become available.

A nasal swab is administered by trained medical staff. The testing process takes between 5 and 10 minutes.

Result times vary depending on the lab, the number of tests conducted, and other factors. Please check with the testing provider when you schedule your appointment.

This is a voluntary medical procedure and therefore requires your authorization to schedule an appointment.

Assistance will be available in Spanish and Santa Barbara County is partnering with the State to offer indigenous languages as well.

No documentation will be needed for testing. Simply bring your authorization number. If you live in Santa Barbara County you are eligible to test, regardless of immigration status.

Yes, but please do not expose others if you suspect you are ill. Only those with confirmed appointments will be tested.

No, testing will occur at an indoor location.

Yes. The privacy of people tested as well as results will be upheld in the same manner as any testing or medical procedure for COVID-19, regardless of location.

Certain information will be shared with Public Health professionals and clinical laboratory staff involved in the collection and processing of any biospecimen in connection with your testing for COVID-19. 

If you are experiencing symptoms and/or you have had contact with someone who has tested positive, you should self-quarantine at home until you receive the results. 

Once tested, you’ll be informed via email, text, or phone when your COVID-19 results are available. 

If you test positive, you will be contacted by Public Health staff. You will be asked for the names of people you may have been in close contact with as a part of the contact tracing process.  Please continue to quarantine and follow the Home Isolation Instructions. 

• Self-isolate and follow the Home Isolation Instruction Sheet.
• Do not leave your home, unless you are receiving medical consult or treatment.
• Please inform anyone you have had close contact with to let them know they have been exposed.

– Close contact is anyone with whom you have spent more than 15 minutes with and were less than 6 ft. of physical distance from.
– Advise them to quarantine for 10 days from their last exposure to you.

If you have a positive lab result you and/or your provider can fax or email the results to the Public Health Departments Disease Control and Prevention Unit:
– Fax: (805) 681-4069
– Email: phddc@sbcphd.org

• Stay home and isolate if you are experiencing symptoms and/or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19
• Practice physical distancing and wear a face covering in public settings if you are not experiencing symptoms and have not been exposed to someone with COVID-19

Contact tracing is a simple concept that is vital to stopping the spread of COVID-19.  Contact tracing saves lives by helping identify individuals with COVID-19 earlier, thereby reducing the chance they will spread COVID-19 to others. Contacts are provided with information to understand their risk, what symptoms to watch for, and instructed to self-isolate until 14 days after their last exposure to the confirmed case.

Yes.  If you or someone you know is contacted by health authorities, please follow their advice.  Working together and using tools like contact tracing, we will more quickly prevent the spread of COVID-19.

• Online Testing Event Registration for Residents: https://lhi.care/covidtesting
• Phone-Based Testing Event Registration for Residents (for residents without internet access only): (888) 634-1123

HOME CARE INSTRUCTIONS FOR TESTED/NOT TESTED ILL PERSONS