El Dorado
County
General Contact Number: (530) 621-5567

Health and Human Services

COVID-19 Testing


 Free, confidential COVID-19 testing is available to everyone! 

Get vaccinated to reduce the need for testing.

When Should I Get Tested?

You should immediately get tested for COVID-19 if you are feeling any symptoms – regardless of your vaccination status. COVID-19 symptoms can feel like a common cold (including just “the sniffles”), seasonal allergies, or flu. COVID testing in California is free to anyone who needs it. 

  • If you’ve been exposed to COVID-19 and are not vaccinated and boosted, get tested right away. If you test negative, retest 5-7 days after your exposure date. Those who are unvaccinated should also test 1-3 days before and 3-5 days after any high-risk events. 
  • If you were vaccinated and boosted when exposed, you should get tested 5-7 days after close contact with someone who has recently tested positive. 
  • If you have recovered from COVID-19 in the last 3 months and have had no new symptoms since your recent exposure, you do not need to get tested. 
  • Traveling? Read our travel fact sheet. 
  • Read our full testing guidance. (Your school or workplace may have their own testing requirements.)


Rapid Antigen Home Test Kits

  • El Dorado County Public Health announced that COVID-19 home test kits are available to El Dorado County residents at local public libraries. 

Where to Get Tested for COVID-19

Testing is free in California for anyone who needs it. There are no out-of-pocket costs for medically necessary testing. The testing provider will bill your insurance directly if insured. El Dorado County has two COVID-19 test sites sponsored by the State and operated by LHI OPTUM Serve. Testing is available for all, there is no barrier to being tested. The cost is covered either by your medical insurance or by the State if you are uninsured.  This is not an antibody test to determine if you have contracted the virus at an earlier time.  All tests conducted at the LHI Testing Sites are Rapid Antigen tests, confirmatory PCR tests will be done if the Rapid Antigen results positive. 

To register for an appointment, people can visit https://lhi.care/covidtesting or call 1-888-634-1123.  Walk-in appointments are  available if online registration is completed.


South Lake Tahoe 

  • Private Sector Testing Locations 

    • Barton Health - Primary Care Provider Office & Urgent Care (Multiple Locations)
    • Test Well - 3678 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe, CA
    • Quick Care - 2074 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe, CA

West Slope

  • LHI Mobile Site - El Dorado County Library Parking Lot - 345 Fair Lane, Placerville, CA

    • Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday (9am - 5pm) | Closed for Lunch (1pm - 2pm)
    • Placerville LHI Testing Site Flyer
    • Schedule an appointment, visit https://lhi.care/covidtesting or call 888-634-1123, walk-in appointments may be available.
    • Please use testing site entrance at the lower parking lot and follow the testing signs.
    • Testing Site may be closed due to air quality or inclement weather.

Pharmacy Locations


At Home Testing Options 

  • See information above for Free At Home Testing Options
  • At Home Rapid Antigen tests are readily available to purchase online or pickup. 
    • Retailers include: Rite Aid, Walgreens, CVS, Walmart and Amazon 
      • Cost, brand and stock vary by retailer
      • Rapid antigen test: $19.88-$23.99
      • PCR kits: $99+

Sacramento County Testing Site & Information


What should I do as I wait for my results? 

If you have symptoms consistent with COVID, you should isolate. If you have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19, you should quarantine to avoid spreading the disease. If you must be in contact with other people, including your household, always wear a mask and practice physical distancing. If you test positive, you will be given further guidance on treatment and self-isolation from your local health department.



Tested positive for COVID-19?

Help stop the spread by answering the call or text from your health department. Also, if you have CA Notify activated on your phone, choose to anonymously alert those you may have exposed. For more information, visit canotify.ca.gov.


To help the counties, the California Department of Public Health using the Primary.Health software has created At Home Test Reporting portals specific to each county. To report your positive at home test, please use the link below: