Coronavirus testing: Information on COVID-19 tests according to state health departments – NBCNews.com

If you think you may have the coronavirus and want to get tested, figuring out where to go can be confusing and challenging. The availability of coronavirus tests in the United States is changing rapidly and depends on where you live. NBC News reached out to all 50 state health departments for information on how they are handling testing and what recommendations they have for people seeking tests.

The general advice is the same nationwide: Call ahead to your doctor or a health care facility if you are concerned you may need to be tested. Based on your symptoms and exposure, they will decide if you need to be evaluated in person and may confer with state authorities about where and how to do the testing. They will give you instructions on how to arrive in a way that limits exposure. Medical facilities and doctors offices ask that everyone call ahead so they can make arrangements to protect others when people come in for testing.

All states now have a public health lab testing for coronavirus, and an increasing number of commercial and academic labs are testing as well. Results times vary and health departments may not know how long they may take for tests performed in private labs.

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Some state health departments have hotlines the public can call for more information, and all have websites that are being frequently updated. For specific details about your state, find it on the drop-down menu below. NBC News will continue to update this list as we receive responses from more states.

For information about testing nationwide, see the CDC's website, which is updated daily.

Call your health care provider if you are symptomatic to discuss whether you should be evaluated in person and considered for testing.Any provider can order a test if a patient meets the state's criteria, which include:

Test results from the State Hygienic Lab should be available in approximately 24 hours. Private lab results times may vary. For more coronavirus information, call Iowa's 211 system or visit the Iowa Department of Public Health's website.

Call your primary care physician if you are concerned and showing symptoms. If you do not have a primary care physician, contact the Louisiana 211 Network by dialing 2-1-1 to be connected to the nearest community clinic. The Louisiana Department of Health recommends testing for any patient with fever, respiratory symptoms and a negative flu test. Testing is not recommended for asymptomatic patients. Any physician can order testing based on their clinical judgement. Testing is being conducted by the state public health laboratory and some commercial labs. The state lab tests samples of high-priority patients, which include:

State lab results are typically available within the same day. Results times may vary at commercial labs. For more information, contact the Louisiana 211 Network by dialing 211 or by texting LACOVID to 898-211, or visit the Louisiana Department of Health's coronavirus website.

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If you believe you have symptoms, call your health care provider or local health district to discuss whether you should be evaluated in person and considered for testing.If you do not have a primary health care provider, call your local health district. They will be able to walk through symptoms with you and determine the next steps if you need to be tested. To decide whether you need testing, providers evaluates a combination of symptoms and risk factors, which include:

At this time, asymptomatic people are not being tested. Testing is available from the Ohio Department of Health State lab, some private labs and several hospitals.Results from the state lab, private labs and some hospitals are generally available in 24 to 48 hours. For more coronavirus information, visit the Ohio Department of Health's website or call their COVID-19 call center at 1-833-4-ASK-ODH.

Adiel Kaplan is a reporter with the NBC News Investigative Unit.

Peter Georgiev is an intern with the NBC News Investigative Unit.

Merritt Enright

Merritt Enright is a researcher with the NBC News Investigative Unit.

Cameron Oakes is an intern with the NBC News Investigative Unit.

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Coronavirus testing: Information on COVID-19 tests according to state health departments - NBCNews.com