Testing guidelines
- COVID-19 Testing Guidance, updated June 14, 2021
- Pooled Testing - Frequently Asked Questions, update June 14, 2021
BinaxNOW Antigen tests are rapid antigen tests which can be performed at point-of-care to supplement molecular testing and help mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more:
Guidance for municipal leaders
The Command Center has developed a guidance for municipal leaders looking to establish testing programs in their communities.
Guidance for laboratories
The Department of Public Health (DPH) has outlined guidance for clinical laboratories regarding COVID-19, specimen collection, testing, and submission to the Massachusetts State Public Health Laboratory: COVID-19 Guidance: Massachusetts State Public Health Laboratory FAQ PDF | Doc
Guidance for health care provider settings
- DPH Guidance, May 13, 2021: BinaxNOW Rapid Point of Care COVID-19 Testing for Provider Settings
Guidance for on-site testing locations
To all healthcare sites or facilities that are currently performing or planning to perform COVID-19 testing on-site: please be aware that this is a notifiable disease and results must be reported to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health within 24 hours. Contact ISIS-ImmediateDiseaseReporting@mass.gov at the Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences for assistance.
What to report:
- Isolation of coronavirus from a clinical specimen; or
- Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in a clinical specimen using a molecular amplification detection test; or
- Detection of SARS-CoV-2 antigen in a clinical specimen; or
- Detection of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in serum, plasma, or whole blood.
- All results (positive, negative, equivocal) should be reported.
DPH Guidance:
- COVID-19 Indoor Testing Guidance | Doc, November 25
- Notification to Test Contacts Regardless of Symptoms | Doc, May 11
- COVID-19 Testing Ordering and Resulting Guidance | Doc, August 1
Guidance for long-term care facilities
BinaxNOW Antigen tests are rapid antigen tests which can be performed at point-of-care to supplement molecular testing and help mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Information: BinaxNOW Antigen Test Study Preprint | Graph
- DPH Guidance, March 30, 2021: Updated BinaxNOW Rapid Point of Care COVID-19 Testing for Long-Term Care Facilities
- This document replaces the January 31, December 29, December 7 and November 23 memorandum.
- Long-Term Care BinaxNOW Maximum Order Volumes (updated March 30, 2021)
- Request form: Long-term Care Facility Resource Request Form for BinaxNOW
Guidance for community health centers and community hospitals
- DPH Memo, updated September 20, 2021: BinaxNOW Rapid Point of Care COVID-19 Testing for Community Health Center and Community Hospitals
- This document replaces the May 4, 2021, January 5, 2021 and December 7, 2020 memorandum.
Guidance for congregate care surveillance testing
On August 4, 2021, EOHHS issued revised surveillance testing guidance for organizations that operate residential congregate care programs, veteran’s shelters, and residential schools. EOHHS Congregate Care Surveillance Testing Guidance (this guidance replaces the May 12, 2021 and March 22, 2021 guidance)
Guidance for schools
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), the Department of Public Health (DPH), and the Command Center have developed guidance for schools looking to establish pooled and/or symptomatic testing:
Guidance for state-operated sites
Rapid testing at state-operated sites:
Asymptomatic testing guidance
If your lab partner or existing supplier is not able to provide you with sufficient test kits to maximize daily capacity, you can request kits (swabs and transport media) from the Department of Public Health by filling out this form: Resource Request Form for Testing Supplies and submitting it via email to your Regional HMCC. Regional HMCC contact info can be found on Learn about HMCC. Please consult with your lab before requesting kits to ensure you request the proper supplies.
Testing supplies
For swab and medium testing supplies, Fill out and download the testing supplies request form and submit it via email to your Regional HMCC.
Additional resources:
- What you need to know about testing for COVID-19 in Massachusetts
- Visit Find a COVID-19 Test to search testing sites
- Learn about the free drive-through Express COVID-19 Testing Sites in Massachusetts
Testing options for Entities
Entities include employers, long term care and assisted living residences, homeless shelters, etc.
Individuals who have a COVID-19 symptom or are a close contact of an individual who is COVID-19 positive should be tested. This testing should be covered by insurance. Please visit our Find a COVID-19 Test locator to find a convenient testing site.
Some entities, such as employers or long term care and assisted living residences, may wish to make testing available for asymptomatic individuals with no known exposure. This type of testing is unlikely to be covered by insurance and will need to be paid for privately. Many community health centers (CHCs) and local hospitals (listed above under “Testing Sites”) are providing this kind of testing. In addition, the providers below have indicated that they offer this type of testing. Please check the boxes below and click “Search” to determine which provider(s) may fit your needs. When your results are shown, click the name of the provider to see more information about them and how to contact them.
Testing at Independent Senior Housing: Frequently Asked Questions
Contact
Phone
24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All calls are free and confidential. Interpreter services are available in multiple languages.