Need a COVID test? Where to find one in Wake, Durham and Orange counties.
Lines for COVID tests have been long, thanks to higher demand over the holidays.
Wake doubled the number of daily COVID-19 testing appointments over the holidays, said Leah Holdren, Wake County’s communications consultant, bringing the total number of slots to roughly 13,000 daily across all five of the county’s drive-thru testing sites.
Raleigh testing sites have been busiest overall, with Kidd Road seeing particularly high traffic and long lines (some reported spending over an hour there), but there are other options in Wake County that should be less grueling.
Here’s what you need to about getting tested in Wake, Durham and Orange counties.
COVID testing appointments required in Wake county
Appointments are required at Wake County testing sites. Even with an appointment, lines could be long in Raleigh. Consider going outside the city for a test.
“We encourage residents to look at availability at all five sites across the county to find availability, if they don’t see a time or date that works for them at a location they’ve visited before,” Holdren said.
QR codes to speed up the process
Scan your QR code: “We’re now adding signage that everyone pull up the QR code included in the confirmation email testing email after scheduling an appointment,” Holdren said.
“Registration staff can quickly scan that and within seconds the testing appointment recipient is checked in and can move to get their testing kit.”
Where to get a COVID test in Wake County
Wake County added an additional testing site on Dec. 23, The N&O previously reported, after recognizing the high demand for COVID tests:
- Raleigh at Word of God Assembly Church on Rock Quarry Road is open for COVID tests through Jan. 4, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pre-registration is required at this link. (Website: mako.exchange/scheduler/registration/?location=6638)
The five other sites Wake County has available are open daily 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
All locations and directions can be found at wakegov.com/testing. Here are the five sites:
- Wake County Southern Regional Center — 130 N. Judd Parkway NE in Fuquay-Varina
- Wake County Northern Regional Center — 350 E. Holding Ave. in Wake Forest
- Wake County Eastern Regional Center — 1002 Dogwood Drive in Zebulon
- Vision Church RDU Parking Lot — 5808 Departure Drive in Raleigh
- Wake County Health & Human Services Center Parking Lot — 2845 Kidd Road in Raleigh
Wake Toxicology is another option, and drive-thru testing is available weekdays and weekends throughout Wake County and one in Durham.
- PCR tests are offered with results back in 10 to 36 hours.
- Pre-registration is required here: waketoxicology.com
- For more info, call 919-399-1215 or 984-810-3479.
- Wake Toxicology also offers rapid-testing — call or go online for more information.
And these five drive-thru sites, sponsored by United Providers of Health, offer ongoing PCR tests with results back from the lab within 24 to 48 hours (via email).
Register for a time slot at any of them by calling 800-701-1023 or registering here. (Website: upoh.org/covid-testing)
Boys and Girls Club — 721 N. Raleigh Blvd. in Raleigh
Care Tax Service — 909 Rock Quarry Road in Raleigh
Justice Served — 202 N. Tarboro St. in Raleigh
McDonald’s (adjacent parking lot) — 830 E. Williams St. in Apex
The Fountain of Raleigh Fellowship — 9621 Six Forks Road in Raleigh
Some other ways to get a COVID test:
• Your doctor, pharmacy: In addition to these sites, many pharmacies, doctors’ offices and health clinics offer testing for the virus, Holdren said.
• Use this online tool: Use the COVID-19 Test Site Finder for a complete list of locations and to find the ones closest to you. This N&O report has complete instructions for using the COVID-19 Test Site Finder.
• Request an at-home test kit: You can also request a free at-home testing kit shipped overnight via FedEx, with results available online usually within two days after your sample arrives at the lab, Holdren said.
COVID test sites in Durham
El Centro Hispano — Open for COVID-19 testing every day (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.), 2000 Chapel Hill Rd., Suite 26A in Durham. Drive-thru testing is available.
414 E. Main St. — Open for COVID-19 testing on Saturdays and Sundays (9 a.m. to 7 p.m.), 414 E. Main St. in Durham. Drive-thru testing is available.
To register for testing at El Centro Hispano or 414 E. Main St., visit Lhi.care/covidtesting or call (877) 562-4850. Testing is available for anyone, regardless of age, insurance or documentation. Spanish speakers are available at each location.
Appointments are not required, but are encouraged, per the public health department’s website.
There are other options for COVID testing in Durham County.
The following locations are all of the COVID-19 testing sites in Durham. Call or visit each testing site’s webpage for the most up-to-date hours of operation and more information.
ARCpoint Labs of Raleigh-Durham
- 5322 North Carolina 55, Durham, NC 27713
- (919) 338-7900
- arcpointlabs.com/raleigh-durham/contact/
- Appointment required
CVS Pharmacy
- Multiple locations. See website for details
- cvs.com/minuteclinic/covid-19-testing
Duke Primary Care Croasdaile
- 1821 Hillandale Road, Suite 24B, Durham, NC 27705
- (919) 385-0429
- dukehealth.org/treatments/urgent-care
- Physician Order Required
- Screening Required
Duke Regional Hospital
- 3643 N. Roxboro Street, Durham, NC 27704
- (919) 385-0429
- dukehealth.org/covid-19-update
- Appointment Required
- Physician Order Required
- Screening Required
Duke University Hospital
- 2301 Erwin Road, Durham, NC 27710
- (919) 385-0429
- dukehealth.org/covid-19-update
- Appointment Required
- Physician Order Required
- Screening Required
- Testing for ages 13+
Durham County Human Services Building (parking lot)
- 414 E. Main Street, Durham, NC 27701
- (877) 562-4850
- Lhi.care/covidtesting
- Appointment Recommended
- Weekends only
- Testing for ages 1+
Durham Pharmacy
- 5826 Fayetteville Rd. Ste. 105, Durham, NC 27713
- (919) 224-1234
- durhampharmacy.net
- Testing for ages 2+
El Centro Hispano
- 2000 Chapel Hill Rd., Suite 26A, Durham, NC 27707
- (877) 562-4850
- lhi.care/covidtesting
- Appointment recommended
- Testing for ages 1+
FastMed Urgent Care
- 7010 NC Highway 751, Durham, NC 27707
- (919) 313-3900
- fastmed.com/urgent-care-centers/durham-nc-walk-in-clinic
- Appointment Required
- Screening Required
Hillandale Road VA Clinic
- 1824 Hillandale Road, Durham, NC 27705
- (919) 383-6107
- va.gov/coronavirus-veteran-frequently-asked-questions
- Must be active duty military, retired or family member.
- Appointment Required
- Screening Required
Lincoln Community Health Center
- 1301 Fayetteville St, Durham, NC 27707
- (919) 956-4034
- lincolnchc.org
- Appointment Required
- Screening Required
- Testing for all ages
New Hope Urgent Care
- 3601 North Roxboro St. Durham, NC 27704
- (919) 247-0498
- newhopeurgentcarenc.com
- Appointment Required
- Screening Required
- Physician Order Required
- Testing for ages 18+
Passport Health Triangle - Durham - RTP
- 100 Meredith Drive, Suite 165, Durham, NC 27713
- (919) 781-0053
- passporthealthusa.com/triangle
- Appointment Required
- Testing for all ages
Reliable Health Services - Durham
- 2634 Durham Chapel Hill Blvd Ste 204
- (919) 596-9479
- Screening Required
- Testing for ages 4+
Triangle Pharmacy - Durham
- 1700 East Highway 54, Durham, NC 27713
- (919) 544-1711, Ext.1
- trianglepharmacy54.com
- Appointment Required
- Screening Required
- Testing for all ages
Wake Toxicology Lab
- 5129 NC HWY 55, Ste. 103-104, Durham, NC 27713
- (919) 399-1215
- waketoxicology.com/coronavirus-testing.html
- Testing for ages 2+
Walgreens
- 200 North Lasalle Street, Durham, NC 27705
- (919) 383-5591
- walgreens.com/covid19testing
- Appointment Required
- Screening Required
- Testing for ages 3+
COVID tests in Orange County
Orange County has two locations for COVID tests, per the county’s website: Hillsborough and Chapel Hill. Each is open every weekday, but Hillsborough is closed Saturday, while Chapel Hill is closed Sunday.
• Hillsborough — Testing is available Monday through Friday (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.) and Sundays (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) in the parking lot in front of the Department of Social Services at 113 Mayo Street. Pre-registration is encouraged and may be done online. Select Orange County when registering: unityphm.com/campaigns/starmed.
• Chapel Hill — Testing is available Monday through Friday (7 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and Saturday (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) at Southern Human Services Center at 2501 Homestead Road. Testing will take place in the large conference room inside the front entrance.
This story was originally published December 28, 2021 at 2:11 PM.
