FREE COVID-19 test sites in Greenville and Spartanburg, SC

Posted on by India Menon | No Comments

Are you looking for Covid-19 testing in Greenville or Spartanburg, SC? The kids are back at school. Unfortunately, COVID-19 is still here. In an effort to identify and treat those who need care, as well as help curb the spread of COVID-19, the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) has a list of places where you and your family can receive COVID-19 testing for free in the Upstate.

This article includes:
Covid-19 Testing in Greenville, SC
Covid-19 Testing in Spartanburg, SC
At Home Covid-19 Tests near Greenville SC
What to Expect During Covid-19 Testing
Getting Vaccinated in Greenville and Spartanburg

This piece contains an Amazon affiliate link.

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Where to Get Tested for COVID-19 In Greenville & Spartanburg, SC: Plenty of FREE testing is available

Check the DHEC website or Prisma Health for updates to the list below, specific details about hours of operation, if an appointment is required, whether it is a drive-thru or on-site test (i.e. “Can I pile the kids in the car?”) if the test is self-administered, and other details. The DHEC list has a filter that will show what locations are administering pediatric tests. If a child in your family needs a test, contact your pediatrician to make them aware of your concern.

The majority of these locations are free testing sites. The DHEC website above lists if there is a cost, but there are plenty of FREE options, so paying out of pocket should be a last resort.

Covid-19 Testing Near Greenville, SC:

Testing site information and locations are subject to change – please see the SCDHEC Covid testing location map for the most current information.

  • DHEC-Tour Health
     225 S Pleasantburg Dr, Greenville, South Carolina 29607
    Pre-Registration Strongly Recommended but Not Required. Wait times at all sites vary and patients are seen in the order that they arrive.
    All Ages tested
    Testing is FREE
    Open daily from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
    IMPORTANT: Arrive well before 4pm. regardless of your appointment status. The testing site computers will shut off promptly at 4pm, even with cars waiting in line, and you will have to return another day.
  • DHEC-RRT – Logue Court
    12 Logue Ct, Greenville, South Carolina 29615
    Preregistration is highly recommended but not required.
    All Ages tested
    Testing is FREE
    Open Monday through Friday 8:30am -5pm
  • DHEC-RRT – Greenville Tech Barton Campus
    506 S Pleasantburg Dr, Greenville, South Carolina 29607
    Preregistration is highly recommended but not required.
    All Ages tested
    Testing is FREE
    This is a saliva test – eating, drinking and smoking should not be done within 30 minutes prior to testing.
    Open Monday through Friday 9am-5pm – CLOSED Friday 12/31
  • DHEC – Greenville County Health Department 
     200 University Ridge, Greenville, South Carolina 29601
    Preregistration is highly recommended but not required.
    All Ages tested
    Testing is FREE
    Health Department only provides COVID-19 testing via Self-administered saliva testing kits – eating, drinking and smoking should not be done within 30 minutes prior to testing.
    Open Monday through Friday 8:30am-5pm – Website shows as CLOSED Monday 1/3/22
  • DHEC-RRT – Greenville Tech Northwest Campus
    8109 White Horse Rd, Greenville, South Carolina 29617
    Preregistration is highly recommended but not required.
    All Ages tested
    Testing is FREE
    Open Monday – Wednesday from 9pm to 5pm
  • CVS Pharmacy multiple locations in Greenville
    Ages 3+
    Testing is FREE
    Do not enter the store, there is a small shed sized building on the exterior where tests are administered.

Additional COVID-19 Testing Sites Near Greenville, SC

Testing site information and locations are subject to change – please see the SCDHEC Covid testing location map for the most current information.

Covid-19 Testing Near Spartanburg, SC Include:

Testing site information and locations are subject to change – please see the SCDHEC Covid testing location map for the most current information.

Additional Free COVID-19 Testing Sites Near Spartanburg, SC

Testing site information and locations are subject to change – please see the SCDHEC Covid testing location map for the most current information.

At Home Covid-19 Test in Greenville, SC

We are not aware of any store that currently has At Home Covid-19 tests in stock near Greenville, SC. When stores restock they sell out very quickly. At home Covid-19 tests are carried by drug stores including CVS, Walgreens and Walmart, as well as some grocery stores like Harris Teeter. These are places to check if you are trying to purchase an at home Covid-19 test in Greenville today.

The best option is to order a set of At-Home Rapid COVID-19 tests for your family before you think you will need them. They often are back-ordered online, so grabbing them to have when you need them later is the best plan.

If you are able to find a home Covid-19 test when an infection is suspected, you should know that results are not considered “official” in many circumstances. DHEC recommends all home tests be followed up with a professional lab test.

When it comes to schools, Greenville County Schools accepts the at-home Covid-19 test for purposes of keeping a child at home with a positive test but asks that the test be immediately followed by a professional lab test. GCS does NOT accept the home Covid-19 test for purposes of exempting a student from quarantining after exposure. Many Spartanburg districts offer testing through the district. Contact your child’s school nurse to find out.

What To Expect During Covid-19 Testing

(Originally Published in Summer of 2020)
I decided to get tested at the *Greenville Convention Center site because it did not require an appointment. (Its proximity to a Krispy Kreme donuts may have also been a deciding factor.) This was a drive-thru testing site. Upon pulling into the car line, a masked member of the COVID-19 Response Team placed a number in my car window and also asked me a few questions about my employment, which I think was to gauge whether I was an essential employee that needed to be put in the shorter line of cars.

There were probably 25 – 30 cars in line ahead of me. It is important to note that once you pull into the line there is no way to get out. Set aside some time! It took me almost an hour to get tested. Several testing sites require you to schedule an appointment. A friend of ours did this at another testing site and he said it took him about 10 minutes total.

Once given your car number, signage posted along the line gives you a phone number to call. Make sure your phone is charged! On the phone, someone collects your personal information to associate with your test sample. This information includes demographic information, contact information, and a description of your symptoms if any. Even if you have no symptoms, you can get tested.

Then I just waited. When I approached the testing area, which was inside part of the convention center, my car was assigned to one of four lanes. (By the way, leave Fido at home. No pets are allowed, as well as no photography. There are no dramatic or comedic selfies of me with a swab in my nose!) Signage tells you to leave your window rolled up until your screener, who is clad in personal protective equipment (PPE), instructs you to roll it down. Once approached by my screener, I rolled down the window. He confirmed my identity by asking for my full name and date of birth.

And here’s the moment I waited for: The screening. My screener asked me if I was comfortable having my nose swabbed and I remarked that I had my sinuses scoped a few times. He instructed me to look straight ahead with my head against the headrest. I closed my eyes. Then, he inserted the swab, which he had just removed from its packaging. I can’t lie: I found it uncomfortable. It kind of stung. However, it only lasted a few seconds. He told me to roll up my window and then wait until he gave me thumbs up to depart. After about a minute, I got the thumbs-up, and away I went! Almost immediately after the test, my eye started watering and my face felt uncomfortable. However, within an hour, I felt a lot better. Overall, I put this on par with the discomfort of a flu shot.

*The Greenville Convention Center testing location is closed, and DHEC testing is now at McAllister Square.

Getting Your COVID-19 Test Results

According to a pamphlet I received at the test site, after the test, my sample is sent to a lab and my results will be posted within four days on my Prisma Health MyChart account. (If you need to set up a MyChart account, your pamphlet includes instructions on how to do so.) Within 24 hours of the results being posted, I will also receive a call from someone at Prisma Health to discuss my results.

Getting Vaccinated In The Upstate

About the Author
India Menon is a native New Orleanian married to a South Indian immigrant. They have lived in Greenville since 2011. A former educational researcher, she is now a stay-at-home parent to two children and helps organize a local Meetup group for stay-at-home moms. Fueled by coffee and good humor, she enjoys playing outdoors, cooking, eating, reading, and plenty of Pinterest fails.

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