Testing information

Rapid antigen tests are widely available and free at participating pharmacies. Anyone can ask for a kit without having to show identification. Visitors to pharmacies can also pick up a kit for someone else. Pharmacies will hand out kits one at a time. Please visit the BC Pharmacy Association website for a list of participating pharmacies.

Your primary care provider can order a PCR test for eligible patients through normal diagnostic procedures when using a rapid antigen test is not appropriate or recommended. If you do not have a primary care provider, you can call Fraser Health Virtual Care (1-800-314-0999).

Take your lab requisition to access services such as Life Labs or Fraser Health Outpatient Labs. Bring the completed sample back to the lab. Please have an asymptomatic individual pick up and drop off the sample kit, wherever possible.

Your primary care provider will tell you the result of your test.

Children five years of age and older may receive a saline gargle test, nasal pharyngeal swab or a rapid test kit. Children younger than the age of five will not receive a saline (salt water) gargle test.

Visit COVID-19 Testing for Children & Youth to learn more about how children are tested and what you can do to prepare for a test.

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If you have symptoms of COVID-19, stay home and away from others, especially people at higher risk of severe illness or complications from COVID-19, until your fever is gone (without the use of medicines that reduce fever, like Tylenol) and you feel well enough to participate in daily activities.

If you cannot avoid close contact with others, take other prevention measures such as wearing a mask in indoor spaces, washing hands with soap and water often and using alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water is not available.

Mild symptoms can be managed at home. Children have similar but milder symptoms to adults. Learn about how to manage symptoms.

Testing is not recommended in asymptomatic individuals outside of public health investigations and other specific circumstances.

We don’t offer COVID-19 testing for the purposes of travelling, school or employment. There are some private pay clinics that offer testing for a fee to people who require asymptomatic testing for reasons that fall outside of B.C. public health recommendations, as outlined in the testing guidelines, such as for travel or employment. For more information, please visit the BC Centre for Disease Control website.

Learn more about what to do after a COVID-19 test.

If you are eligible for a COVID-19 PCR test, you can access the results of your test four ways: in person, by text, online or by phone. Learn more about each option on the BCCDC's webpage here.

If you have a Personal Health Number (PHN), you can access your COVID-19 result in person or through text message, online services or phone services.

If you do not have a PHN, you can access your results in person by contacting a primary care provider, walk-in clinic or primary care centre.

Rapid antigen test results (ex. rapid test, at-home kit) are NOT available at Health Gateway.

Private PCR COVID-19 test results (tests that are paid for privately for work/travel) are available from the test provider directly. Follow their instructions to access a copy of your test results.

For support with understanding your test results, visit the BCCDC's webpage.

If you have tested positive for COVID-19, learn what to do next.

A negative test result means that you likely did not have COVID-19 on the day you had the test. You should stay home until your symptoms have improved.

Learn more about your test results.