1. Public Health
  2. Coronavirus
  3. Testing

Testing

person getting a nasal swab to test for coronavirus from their car

Free COVID-19 Community Testing Site

  • Alliant Energy Center: 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison, WI 53713
  • Hours
    • Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, from 8:00am – 4:00pm, and
    • Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:00 am – 8:00pm.
  • No appointments or pre-registration necessary
  • Drive-thru, bike-up, or walk-up
  • Free
  • No ID is needed and you won't be asked for your immigration status
  • Spanish and Hmong translators are available onsite
  • 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 preferred that you wear a cloth face covering when using this service.
  • The test site will be open until June 24, 2020. 
  • Coordinated by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and National Guard

You Can Be Tested

  • Anyone 5 years of age and older can get tested at the community testing site. Kids under 5 years old are not eligible for testing at the community test site.  
  • COVID-19 testing is strongly recommended for:
    • Any resident experiencing any (even if mild) symptoms. COVID-19 symptoms can be: cough, difficulty breathing, fever, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell. 
    • People who are uninsured and do not have a primary care provider
    • Essential workers who are not able to always socially distance at work, including: food service workers, meat packing plant workers, dairy farm workers, first responders, and health care workers
    • Contacts of people who been diagnosed with COVID-19

How Testing Works

1. Arrive at Alliant Energy Center

You will enter off of Alliant Energy Center Way from Rimrock Road. The address is 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison WI 53713.

2. Check In

Stay in your car. Someone in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will come to your car. If you don't have a car, there is also testing available for you. Please follow signage. No identification is necessary. 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. 

3. Swab

After checking in, a worker in PPE will take a sample by swabbing about one inch inside your nose. 

4. Lab Testing

This sample is sent to a lab to see if you have COVID-19. Remember this test will only tell us if you have COVID-19 right now. It does not tell us if you had COVID-19 in the past.

5. Get Results

You will receive a phone call from the Wisconsin National Guard or our staff as soon as your results are ready. Results can take 3-5 business days or longer. We cannot expedite test results.

If You've Already Been Tested at the Test Site

  • You will receive a phone call from the Wisconsin National Guard or our staff as soon as your results are ready. Results can take 3-5 business days or longer. We cannot expedite test results.

    • Once you have received your results by phone, if you need written documentation of your results as well, you may complete this form.
  • 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.