COVID Testing Options

Find a Free COVID-19 Test in New Mexico

Knowing if you have COVID-19 can help you seek proper treatment and prevent you from spreading the virus to your family and community.

At-home COVID-19 tests, or antigen tests, are still an effective way to get answers quickly, but it is important to note that the tests are less sensitive than PCR tests (which must be evaluated by a lab). You may need to repeat testing or find a PCR test if you get a negative test and your symptoms are not going away.

The FDA monitors the tests performance for new variants on their website and keeps an updated list of which at-home tests are not likely to pick up current COVID variants. The list currently includes Clip COVID Rapid Antigen tests and SPERA COVID-19 Antigen tests, which are not part of the USPS free test program or Project Access COVID Tests.

Remember to get tested if:

  • You have symptoms of COVID-19: cough, fever, shortness of breath, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, and/or loss of taste or smell.
  • You have been a close contact of someone who tested positive for COVID-19.
  • You are required to present a COVID-19 test to your employer, educational institution, or another entity.

*Please note, costs may now apply for Walgreens testing due to recent federal changes. You will not have out-of-pocket costs if you meet the criteria for no-cost testing through your insurance or a government-funded program. You should contact your insurer before scheduling to confirm the test meets coverage criteria.

It has been reported that PCR tests done at Walgreens could take up to 7+ days for the results to come back.

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