Type of Test
2 common tests are PCR tests (molecular/viral tests) and Rapid Antigen tests. In a nutshell, PCR tests actually detect if the virus is present or not by matching up its genetic code. Antigen tests can find parts (or fragments) that came from the virus, like the distinct spike proteins it has on its surface.
| TEST: | RT-PCR/molecular | Antigen |
|---|---|---|
| Target | virus genetic makeup (RNA) | parts of the virus (proteins) |
| Time | hours – days | minutes – hours |
| Sensitivity* | very high | slightly lower |
| Specificity* | very high | high |
Testing Site & Registration
Click ‘REGISTER NOW’ for a specific location to register for a test at that site. Testing at these sites is free.
| COVID Testing County | COVID Testing Site Name & Address | COVID Testing Days | COVID Testing Times | Registration Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baldwin | Baldwin County SPOC 800 N Glynn St, Milledeville, GA 31061 | M+F | 8-12 | Register now |
| Bartow | Lakepoint Sports Complex 261 Stars Way, Emerson, GA 30121 | T+TH | 10-7 | Register now |
| Bibb – starts 9/24 | Bibb County SPOC 1600 Forsyth St., Macon, GA, 31201 | M+F | 8:30-4:30 | Register now |
| Bulloch | Downtown Statesboo in the parking lot located on the East Side of Railroad Street between Hill St and Courtland St. White drive thru tent. | M-F + Last Saturday | M-F 8-3 and Last Sat 8:30-12:30 | Register now |
| Camden | Camden County Health Department 905 Dilworth St., St. Mary’s, GA 31558 | T+TH | 9-12 | Register now |
| Catoosa | The Colonnade 264 Catoosa Circle, Ringgold, GA 30736 | M+W | 10-7 | Register now |
| Chatham | Savannah Civic Center 301 W Oglethorpe Ave Savannah, GA 31401 West Chatham SPOC 210 Technology Circle, Savannah, GA, 31407 | M-S M-S | M-F 8:30-3:30 Sat 8:30-11:30 M-F 7-3 Sat 8:30-11:30 | Register now Register now |
| Cherokee | Cherokee County SPOC 271 Marietta Rd Canton, GA 30114 | M-F | 8-3 | Register now |
| Clarke | Athens-Clarke County SPOC- 3500 Atlanta Hwy, Athens, GA 30606 | M-Sat | M 8:30-4:30 T-F 8:30-6:30 Sat 8-12 | Register now |
| Clayton | Rock Springs Baptist Church- 5900 Reynolds Road, Morrow, GA 30260 | M-F | 8-4 | Register now |
| Cobb | Chuck Camp Park 2270 Benson Poole Rd Marietta, GA 30060 | M-Sat | M-F 8-5 Sat 8-12 | Register now |
| Coffee | Coffee Regional Medical Center- 1101 Ocilla Rd., Douglas, GA 31533 | M-F + 1st Saturday | M-F 8-3 1st Sat 8:30-12:30 | Register now |
| Colquitt | Gladys Espy School Complex- 1800 Park Ave SE, Moultrie, GA 31768 | M-Sun | 9-12 Starting 9/6 9-1 | Register now |
| Coweta CLOSED 9/27+10/5 | 9/13-10/11 Testing to be held at Asa M. Powell Senior Expo Center 197 Temple Avenue, Coweta, GA 30263 | M,T,TH,F | 9-2 | Register now |
| Dodge | Faith in Action Baptist Church 1046 College St, Eastman, GA 31023 | T+Th | 9-2 | Register now |
| Douglas | Arbor Place Mall Sears 6580 Douglas blvd Douglas, GA 30135 | T+TH+Sat | T+Th 8-3 Sat 9-12 | Register now |
| Effingham | Effingham Hospital 459 HWY 199 S, Springfield GA, 31329 | M,T,TH,F | 8:30-3:30 | Register now |
| Fannin | The Farmers Market 811 Summit St., Blue Ridge, GA 30513 | Th | 8-3 | Register now |
| Fayette | Fayette County Health Dept 140 Stonewall Ave Fayetteville, GA 30214 | M+T+F | 9-3 | Register now |
| Forsyth | Central Park Recreation Complex 2300 Keith Bridge Rd., Cumming GA, 30040 | M-F | 8:30-4:30 | Register now |
| Franklin | Franklin County Health Department 6695 GA 145 South, Carnesville, GA 30521 | M,W,Th | 8:30-4:30 | Register now |
| Fulton County (North) | SPOC North- 4350 North Point Pkwy Alpharetta, GA 30022 | M-Sat | M-F 10:30-6:30 Sat 8:30-12 | Register now |
| Fulton County (South) | SPOC South 4951 Camp Dr. Atlanta, GA 30349 | M-Sat | M-F 8:30-4 Sat 8:30-12 | Register now |
| Fulton County (Central) | SPOC Central 265 Boulevard, Atlanta, GA 30312 | M-Sat | M-F 8:30-4 SAT 8:30-12 | Register now |
| Gilmer | Gilmer County Parks and Recreation 1561 S Main ST, Ellijay, GA 30540 | MWF | 8-2 | Register now |
| Glynn | Southeast Georgia Physician Associates 3011 Kemble Ave., Brunswick, GA 31520 | M-Sat | 8-6 | Register now |
| Gwinnett | Gwinnett Place Mall 2100 Pleasant Hill Rd, Duluth, GA 30096 | M-S | M-F 8-5 Saturday 8-12 | Register now |
| Hall | Sherwood Plaza 601 S Enota Dr NE Gainesville, GA 30501 | M-F | 8:30-4:30 | Register now |
| Henry | Redhawk Baseball Complex 143 Henry Pkwy McDonough, GA 30253 | M-F | 9-3 | Register now |
| Houston | Houston County Health Department 98 Cohen Walker Dr., Warner Robins, Ga, 31088 | T+Th | 8-2 | Register now |
| Jasper – starts 9/23 | Jasper County Health Dept. 825 Eatonton St., Monticello, GA, 31604 | T+Th | 8-4:30 | Register now |
| Laurens | Dublin Church of the Nazarene 312 Telfair Street, Dublin, GA 31021 | M-F | 9-2 | Register now |
| Liberty | James Brown Park 800 Tupelo Trail, Hinesville, GA, 31313 | M-F | 8:30-1:30 | Register now |
| Lowndes | Lowndes County Health Department 206 S Patterson St., Valdosta, GA 31601 | M+T | 9-3 | Register now |
| Lumpkin | Lumpkin County Health Department 60 Mechanicsville Rd., Dahlonega, GA 30533 | M,W,TH | 8:30-4:30 | Register now |
| MItchell Starts 9/22 | Mitchell County First Baptist Church 27 E. Broad St., Camilla, GA, 31730 | Wednesday | 9-3 | Register now |
| Murray | Murray County Recreation Dept. 651 Hyden Tyler Rd., Chatsworth, GA, 30705 | Monday | 8-3 | Register now |
| Muscogee | Muscogee County Columbus SPOC- 5601 Veterans Pkwy, Columbus, GA 31904 | M-F | 9-1 | Register now |
| Pickens | Mount Zion Church 1036 N Main St., Jasper, GA, 30143 | Tu | 8-3 | Register now |
| Rockdale | Springfield Baptist Church Conyeyrs 1877 Iris Dr., Conyers, GA 30013 | Tu-Fri + every other Sat | 9-5 | Register now |
| Sumter | Phoebe Sumter Medical Center 901 Adderton St., Americus, GA, 31719 | M-F | 9-4 | Register now |
| Tift | Tift County Health Department 305 E 12th St., Tifton, GA 31794 | W+TH | 9-3 | Register now |
| Thomas | Deep South Fair 2057 GA Hwy 122 Thomasville, GA 31757 Starting 9/23 St. Luke CME Church 305 Chatham Dr. Thomasville, GA 31757 | M-F | 9-12 | Register now |
| Whitfield | Edwards Park SPOC- 115 Edwards Park Entrance, Dalton, GA 30720 | M-F | 8-3 | Register now |
Jargon/Acronyms
- RT-PCR stands for reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, a long lab process that copies some sample of genetic code and looks for a complementary match in that code.
- RNA stands for ribonucleic acid, the fundamental code that makes coronavirus. (Similarly, DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid, and fundamentally makes us.)
- SARS‑CoV‑2 stands for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 – the name of this disease that has caused a pandemic.
- Ig stands for immunoglobulin, which are antibodies that humans make in response to pathogens. There are many types.
- ACE stands for angiotensin converting enzyme, which is a technical point of entry for the coronavirus in human cells.
- Sensitivity and specificity can be easy to mix up. In the most general terms, sensitivity is getting a positive result in a person that really is infected with the virus. Specificity is getting a negative result in someone who does not have the virus. A good test will do both. No test is perfect, but a RT-PCR/molecular test is considered to be more accurate than an antigen test. (Antibody tests, on the other hand, are not as useful for diagnosing COVID since they only test for a past exposure to coronavirus.)
updated 9/21/21
© Copyright 2021. All Rights Reserved. ScoreMatrix • Designed by Nash