Free COVID-19 Testing

press release: Info for testing at Alliant Energy Center, 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way. Open through at least March 31 (times may change), Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:00pm to 8:00pm and Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 8:00am to 4:00pm. The site will be closed on Sundays and Mondays. Testing will continue through at least June 30.

Testing is currently in the New Holland Pavilion and will be moving to the Coliseum beginning March 9. People needing a test should still use the Rimrock Road entrance and follow signs guiding them to the Coliseum. Vaccinations are also taking place (as of April 5) at Alliant Center; for more info, visit here.

In collaboration with the National Guard, PHMDC implemented an online registration system that has dramatically improved wait times. People can register before heading to the site or register onsite.

TRANSPORTATION: Drive-thru, bike-up, or walk-up. If you use the walk or bike-up lane, you must wear a mask. If you do not have a mask, one will be provided to you. 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 preferred that you wear a cloth face covering when using this service.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS: Testing is free, no appointments necessary. No ID is needed and you won't be asked for your immigration status; Spanish and Hmong translators are available onsite. 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. Please be prepared for a wait.

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.

For updates on the current wait time on Tuesdays through Fridays, see our Twitter feed . Saturdays typically have a wait time of less than an hour.

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.

Public Health Madison & Dane County provides staffing for the testing site with support from a number of other county agencies including the Alliant Energy Center and Sheriff’s Office. Funding for test kits is provided by the State of Wisconsin while local dollars and federal CARES funds help cover costs associated with operations.

South Madison Community Test Site: Village on Park: Public Health WIC Clinic at 2230 S. Park Street, Madison, WI 53713. Currently, the WIC location is also set to be running through at least May 15.

Mondays, 8:00am – 4:00pm; Wednesdays, 12:00pm – 8:00pm. Testing is open until at least March 31.

If You Can, Make an Appointment. Appointments will be scheduled in 15 minute time slots, and 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 is 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. Anyone 4-17 years old must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian authorized to give consent for the COVID-19 test on their behalf. Paper registration forms can be used at this site to test 4 year olds. The Alliant test site cannot test people under 5 years of age because the digital COVID Connect system does not allow it.

Test types available at South Madison Site:  PCR tests, and antigen tests. Both tests involve swabbing a sample from about one inch inside your nose.  People tested at our test sites with a PCR test usually hear back in 12-48 hours, but test results can take longer. Antigen test results take about 15 minutes. See our blog post for an explanation about what the tests can and cannot tell us, and if you'll need a confirmatory PCR test after an Antigen test or not. Both tests will only tell us if you have COVID-19 right now. They do not tell us if you had COVID-19 in the past.

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.

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.

For more info on getting your test results, visit the PHMCD website.