Healthcare Professionals

COVID-19 Testing

Current as of February 24, 2023

Who Should Be Tested

Patients should be tested if:

  • They are symptomatic as determined by the referring provider
  • They are a close contact to someone who tested positive for COVID-19
  • They have a planned hospital stay, surgery or aerosol-generating procedure that would necessitate a known result for COVID-19.

In the latter case, normally a patient would be tested by the provider or institution performing the surgery or procedure but we are happy to perform the test if the referring provider believes we are the best choice for the family.

We test patients ages 20 and younger.

How to Order a Test

1. Order the test – send one requisition per fax:

Fill out a SARS-CoV-2 COVID lab requisition (PDF) to order testing for your patient. Send the form via preferred method below:

NOTE: COVID-19 tests can only be ordered using the requisition form above. Please do not use your practice EHR to generate an order requisition.

2. Schedule lab appointment – ALL TESTS must be scheduled:

Instruct your patient to schedule their appointment by calling 206-987-2100 (our COVID-19 call center and test scheduling line). This number is staffed 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday (except some federal holidays); families who call after-hours or on Sunday may leave a message and receive a call back within 48 hours.

Scheduling is only available once the testing order is received. If your patient calls to schedule their appointment and the order has not been received, they will be instructed to contact you.

3. Share the results with your patients:

Results will generally be sent to the provider who ordered the test within 48 hours (standard lab report) via fax and will also be available via EpicCare Link to share with your patient. If you haven’t received your results within the time expected, please call our clinical lab at 206-987-2102 for assistance.

Cost

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 your patient could have an amount to pay after insurance is billed.

Learn more about Cost of COVID-19 Testing.

What Patients Should Expect

Arrival:

Families arriving at our drive-through testing site at our main campus in the Ocean 8 parking lot 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 one child.

Families coming to Urgent Care for testing should proceed to the front door. There are signs with screening instructions for all patients and visitors at the entry for COVID-19 symptoms. Please remind families to bring only the patient being tested and leave other children with a caregiver; we currently have visitor restriction recommendations we ask all visitors to follow.

Swab test: Patients will be tested using either a mid-turbinate swab or a nasopharyngeal swab, depending on availability of supplies. The healthcare professionals doing the testing are highly skilled at obtaining swabs for children of all ages and developmental stages.

Patient handout: Each family will receive a take-home flyer, “Testing and Follow-up For COVID-19” that describes when and how they will receive their test results, how to safely quarantine at home, and what to do if symptoms worsen (i.e. call their PCP).

Testing Locations and Hours

Drive-Through Testing at Seattle Children’s Main Campus location, Ocean 8 parking lot

Address
4800 Sand Point Way NE
Seattle, WA 98105

Map and directions

  • Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Seattle Children’s Urgent Care Locations in Bellevue, Everett, Federal Way and Seattle

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.