1. Public Health
  2. Coronavirus
  3. Testing

Testing

person getting nose swab during covid testingTesting is Open to Everyone 5 Years of Age and Older

Testing is open to anyone 5 years of age and older, but we do have a few recommendations (see below). Anyone 5-17 years old must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian authorized to give consent for the COVID-19 test on their behalf. If you're able to be tested at your doctor's office, we encourage you to do so.

We recommend testing for:

  • People who have had close contact (within 6 feet for about 15 minutes) with someone who tested positive for COVID-19.
  • People with COVID-19 symptoms
  • People who have regular exposure to a large number of people (e.g., people who work in grocery stores)
  • People who work closely with high-risk populations (e.g., healthcare workers, people who work with people who are incarcerated, people who work in long-term care facilities)

We do not recommend testing for:

  • People who plan to attend a gathering and "want to make sure they're okay." Testing only tells you if you had COVID on the day you were tested. A negative test does not necessarily mean it is safe to gather with others.
  • People who are getting tested frequently. We do not recommend routine, repeated testing just for peace of mind. Tests cost about $100 each and are in limited supply.

There are Many Options for COVID-19 Testing in Dane County

Your healthcare provider
If you have health insurance, we recommend contacting your healthcare provider to see if they are able to test you.

Alliant Energy Center
This community testing site is open Monday through Saturday for people ages 5 and older. See below for more information.  

UW-Madison
UW-Madison has testing available on campus for students and staff members.

South Madison Community Test Site
This community testing site is open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for people ages 5 and older. See below for more information. 

Alliant Energy Center

Alliant Energy Center: 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison, WI 53713.

  • Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, from 8:00am – 4:00pm, and
  • Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:00am – 8:00pm.
  • The test site will be open until at least December 30.

If it has been at least 5 days since you got tested at the Alliant Energy Center and you haven't received your results, call the Wisconsin COVID-19 Results Line at (866) 419-6988.

If You Can, Pre-Register First

We encourage you to pre-register as close as possible to your planned testing time to make sure we have your most current symptoms. After you pre-register, you'll receive a QR code (it's like a bar code). You can pre-register on a computer at home and print out your QR code or you can pre-register on a smart phone and show the QR code on your device. As of September 8, you need to pre-register each time you visit the test site and will be issued a new QR code that is unique for each visit.

Register Online

Follow these instructions on how to register. If you don't register online, you will still be tested. Staff will register you, but it will take more time. This document outlines the questions you'll be asked when you pre-register.

  • If you come with other family members, each person must register individually. You can use the same email address for multiple people. You will be emailed one QR code for each person registered.
  • You'll be asked your name, birthday, address, phone number, race, ethnicity, and gender. By asking for race, ethnicity, and gender we can better identify possible disparities.

Testing Details for Alliant Energy Center

  • No appointments
  • Free
  • No ID is needed and you won't be asked for your immigration status.
  • Spanish and Hmong translators are available onsite.
  • You do not need to be a Dane County resident.
  • This test involves swabbing a sample from about one inch inside your nose. It will only tell us if you have COVID-19 right now. It does not tell us if you had COVID-19 in the past.

Transportation

  • You can drive, bike, or walk to the site

    • If you drive, you cannot use the walk-up lane. The walk-up lane is reserved for those who bike or walk to the Alliant Energy Center.
    • You can have multiple family members in your car to be tested.
  • For a free ride to the site, call the Public Health Transportation Line at (608) 243-0420. A transportation company will then call you to schedule the ride. It’s required that you wear a cloth face covering when using this service.
  • You can leave the line at any time. If you need help finding an exit, please let a staff person know and they can guide you.

Severe weather

Testing will continue through severe weather up to and including a tornado watch. In the event of a tornado warning, we will pause operations (including closing exterior doors) and shelter in place until the watch has expired and it is safe to resume operations.

Getting Your Results from Alliant Energy Center

Limit contact with others while you wait

Until you have your test results, limit contact with others. This is very important, especially if you have been exposed to someone diagnosed with COVID-19, or if you have symptoms like fever, cough, and sore throat.

Expect a Call or Email with Your Results

Results can take 3-7 business days or longer. We cannot expedite test results.

  • For negative results: you will be emailed a secure link. You will be prompted to enter your name and date of birth to verify your identity, and then can view and print your results. If you didn’t provide an email address, you will be called with your results.
  • For positive results: you will be called by Public Health staff.

If it has been at least 5 days since you got tested at the Alliant Energy Center and you haven't received your results, call the Wisconsin COVID-19 Results Line at (866) 419-6988.

Don't Let Your Guard Down

Remember that your test is a snapshot in time. COVID-19 is circulating in our community, and you could still be exposed to the virus in the future. Don’t let your guard down—keep up the strong prevention measures you’ve been taking to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

South Madison Community Test Site

Village on Park: Public Health WIC Clinic at 2230 S. Park Street, Madison, WI 53713

  • Mondays and Fridays, 8:00am – 4:00pm
  • Wednesdays, 12:00pm – 8:00pm
  • Testing is open until at least December 30.

If You Can, Make an Appointment

  • Appointments will be scheduled in 15 minute time slots
  • Appointments can be scheduled by calling the appointment scheduling line: 608-243-0302
  • All clients will receive confirmation e-mails (if an email was provided) and an appointment reminder the day prior to their scheduled test
  • Scheduling staff are not able to answer medical questions or provide medical advice.
  • If you have more than one person in your household wanting testing:
    • Please try and schedule appointments for all household members within the same time slot(s); up to two household members per time slot will be allowed
    • If you have more than 2 household members, schedule consecutive time slots (e.g., 12:00pm and 12:15pm).

Testing Details for South Madison Test Site

  • Free
  • No ID is needed and you won't be asked for your immigration status.
  • Spanish and Hmong translators are available onsite.
  • You do not need to be a Dane County resident. 
  • This test involves swabbing a sample from about one inch inside your nose. It will only tell us if you have COVID-19 right now. It does not tell us if you had COVID-19 in the past.

Transportation

  • This is not drive-up testing. You will need to enter the building.
  • For a free ride to the site, call the Public Health Transportation Line at (608) 243-0420. A transportation company will then call you to schedule the ride. It’s required that you wear a cloth face covering when using this service.

Getting Your Results from South Madison Test Site

Limit contact with others while you wait

Until you have your test results, limit contact with others. This is very important, especially if you have been exposed to someone diagnosed with COVID-19, or if you have symptoms like fever, cough, and sore throat.

Expect a Call or Email with Your Results

  • You will be contacted about the result of your test within 3-5 days of testing
  • If you test positive for COVID-19 (you currently have the COVID-19 virus), you will be contacted by a Public Health Madison & Dane County staff member and be asked:
    • Your symptoms
    • How you think you may have been exposed to COVID-19
    • Who you have been in contact with to determine who may have been exposed
  • If your test result is negative you will be contacted by Public Health Madison & Dane County with your negative test results, either by phone call or secure email
    • To receive your results by email, clients must provide a valid email address. Once the email with results are received, clients will need to provide a username and password to access the results.
    • To receive your results by phone, clients must provide a valid phone number. To receive results, client will need to verify their date of birth. Results will not be left on a voice message, and staff will only call two times.
  • If people need an employer letter or documentation of test result, please email us.

Don't Let Your Guard Down

Remember that your test is a snapshot in time. COVID-19 is circulating in our community, and you could still be exposed to the virus in the future. Don’t let your guard down—keep up the strong prevention measures you’ve been taking to prevent the spread of COVID-19.