New Drive-Through COVID-19 Testing Site to Open in State College

A new drive-through site for COVID-19 testing will open in the State College area as part of a partnership among the state Department of Health, Walmart and Quest Diagnostics.

The no-cost testing site will open Wednesday in the Walmart parking lot, 1665 N. Atherton St. Testing will be limited to 50 registered individuals per day and will be conducted from 7 a.m.-9 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. No testing is done inside of Walmart.

State College was one of nine new sites announced on Wednesday, bringing the total to 19 sites at Walmart locations. The partnership aims to provide no-cost testing to residents in areas with fewer testing sites.

“We continue to add testing sites in locations that are convenient for Pennsylvanians and increase the state’s testing capabilities,” Gov. Tom Wolf said in a release. “We do not want any Pennsylvanian in need of a test to have difficulty finding a location close to home for a free test.” 

Registration through Quest Diagnostics is required one day in advance. Patients will be asked several questions to determine if they qualify per CDC guidelines, schedule an available appointment time, print a voucher and take the voucher with them to their appointment.

“After testing, you are required to return home and self-isolate,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “If symptoms develop or worsen while you are waiting for your test results, talk to your doctor. If you experience a medical emergency, please seek immediate care.”

Patients will be notified of results by email within 24-48 hours of testing and physicians will call any patient who has a positive test result.

Several other businesses also offer COVID-19 testing for symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals in Pennsylvania, including CVS and Rite Aid.

Mount Nittany Health and Penn State Health have jointly operated a drive-through, appointment-only test collection site since April. Testing there is by appointment only for COVID-19 symptomatic patients of Mount Nittany Physician Group, Penn State Health or individual providers who have been directed to the site by their primary care provider. The testing location that was located at Mount Nittany’s Blue Course Drive facility moved to the Mount Nittany Medical Center parking garage as of Monday.