Need a COVID test? Here's where to go in Larimer County and how to get free rapid tests

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Looking for a place to get tested for COVID-19 in the Fort Collins and Loveland area? Here are some options:

Drive-up testing sites

Mako Medical offers two drive-thru COVID-19 testing sites in Larimer County.

Mako is contracted through the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, are open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Pre-registration is recommended and can be found at mako.exchange/scheduler/selector. Test results will be available within three days and can be found using the Luminate Health application.

The testing sites will be at:

Loveland: Foundations Church, 1380 N. Denver Ave., parking lot area on the east/back side of the building.

Fort Collins: Timberline Church, 2908 S. Timberline Road, parking lot on southeast side.

Testing is available for those ages 2 and older, with or without symptoms, on a walk-in basis only. The sites will have ample space to offer testing to a large number of people so appointments are not necessary. Health insurance is not required.

More: Homebound? Here's how to schedule a COVID vaccine or booster appointment in Larimer County

UCHealth testing sites

COVID-19 tests from UCHealth are currently available for people experiencing symptoms like fever, shortness of breath or a new cough, for patients with a provider’s order or for people who do not have symptoms but need a test for work, travel or because they were recently in close contact with someone who tested positive.

UCHealth COVID-19 testing sites require all patients to have either an order or an appointment for a test. If you show up outside of your scheduled appointment, you may not receive your test. A nasal swab test at UCHealth costs $85, though many insurance providers cover COVID-19 testing.

Visit https://www.uchealth.org/services/infectious-diseases/coronavirus-covid-19/covid-19-testing/ to set up an appointment.

More: Where to get a COVID-19 booster shot in Northern Colorado

Fort Collins: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays and Sundays, UCHealth Laboratory, Harmony Campus, 4630 Snow Mesa Drive, Fort Collins. Drive-thru tests will be conducted. For drive-thru Monday through Friday, the first hour of the day is reserved for pre-op patients; appointments start at 10 a.m.

Call for Banner test

COVID-19 tests are available through Banner Health in Fort Collins or Loveland by calling 1-844-549-1856.

Patients also can visit Banner Urgent Care centers for tests.

More: Here's why Larimer County won't add more COVID-19 restrictions amid omicron case surge

Stitches offers COVID-19 test site in Wellington

Stitches Acute Care, 7950 Sixth St., offers testing from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. COVID-19 tests at this site are free for those without insurance as part of the federal CARES Act. Patients are asked to preregister at stitchescare.com.

King Soopers testing sites at Little Clinic

Kind Soopers is offering COVID-19 tests at its Little Clinic inside the North Fort Collins store at 1842 N. College Ave. The schedule an appointment call 970-494-6975 or visit www.thelittleclinic.com.

Free rapid tests in Colorado

Coloradans can get rapid, at-home COVID-19 tests delivered right to their door.

People interested in receiving the BinaxNOW tests can sign up at covid19.colorado.gov/covid-19-testing-at-home and four tests will be delivered to them in four to seven days. These are rapid antigen tests that give results within 15 minutes.

The recommended use for the eight tests is twice weekly for four weeks, but they can be used weekly or just when someone is symptomatic.

Order free rapid tests through U.S. Postal Service

A beta site is up and running, where each household can order up to four tests. Go to COVIDTests.gov, which then directs people to a U.S. Postal Service site.

Tests are expected to be shipped within seven to 12 days of being ordered.

Pat Ferrier is a senior reporter covering business, health care and growth issues in Northern Colorado. Contact her at patferrier@coloradoan.com. Please support her work and that of other Coloradoan journalists by purchasing a subscription today.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: COVID testing sites in Fort Collins, Loveland area