Kansas City Health Department has free testing for flu, COVID and RSV

If you suspect you have the flu, COVID, or RSV this fall and winter, free testing is available at the Kansas City Health Department through the end of November.

In addition to walk-up testing, free at-home COVID test kits are available for Kansas City residents.

The Health Department is teaming up with Children’s Mercy, whose staff is leading the testing as part of a study to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in schools.

“Convenient testing helps keep these viruses from spreading; when people know what they have, they can take proper precautions to keep others from getting sick” said Dr. Jennifer Schuster, one of the Children’s Mercy physicians leading the School TLC (Testing, Learning & Consultation) Study.

Beginning Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023, testing is available at the Health Department, 2400 Troost Avenue:

• Tuesdays 1pm-3pm
• Fridays 10am-12pm

These hours will continue at least until the end of November, when staff will evaluate the community’s testing needs to decide if the testing clinic should be extended.

The flu, COVID, RSV drive-through or walk-up testing will be conducted at the Health Department’s mobile clinic located in the southwest parking lot of the Health Dept. building. This is first-come, first-served service. Appointments are not necessary.

Those who come for testing will be given a swab and will collect mucus from themselves or from their child by placing it in the tip of their nose. The swab will test for all three viral infections. Test results will be sent by text, email, or mail in 24 to 48 hours.

The free take-home test boxes contain two COVID tests and are also available during business hours at the front desk. Two boxes per person/family, please.

The questions you might be asked for the TLC study are about the testing process and include questions like this:

• Was testing at this location easy and convenient?
• Did you trust the person who offered your child testing?
• Was your child comfortable being tested?
• Did you receive test results in a timely manner?

The free testing and study are open to all Kansas City residents.