The Arkansas Department of Health’s Local Health Units – including Saline County – will offer COVID-19 testing beginning Monday, May 18, 2020.
Reasons to get tested:
- you who believe they have had contact with or have been exposed to a positive case
- you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, such as
- fever,
- cough or
- shortness of breath
- you live in or have traveled to an area experiencing active transmission (hot spot)
- with or without symptoms
If you want to get tested, first contact the local health unit in Benton by calling 501-303-5650. They are open 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at 1612 Edison Avenue, at the intersection of Highway 35. Get an appointment for testing, so staff can prepare and ensure safe spacing between patients. A list of all health units is available at healthy.arkansas.gov/health-units.
Patients will be directed to self-collect specimens outside of the unit using a provided nasal swab and container. The specimens will then be sent to the state Public Health Laboratory. Results are typically made available within 48 to 72 hours, though it can take up to a week. Positive patients will be notified as soon as a result is available.
There is no out-of-pocket cost for the tests, but insurance may be billed for patients who have it.