COVID Testing for Kids

If your child has coronavirus symptoms or you want them to be tested for another reason, follow these steps:

1. Talk to your child's primary care doctor to talk about your child’s symptoms or your reason for testing.
2. Ask your doctor to send a referral to Children's Colorado.
3. After confirming your referral is in place, please call the location of your choice to make your appointment. We're open for calls from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., 7 days a week.
   • Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora: 720-777-0001
   • Colorado Springs: 719-305-0005

When you call, our team will explain the next steps and answer questions about insurance, billing and more.

Please note: We can only test individuals with a scheduled appointment. We cannot extend testing to other family members in the car unless they also have an appointment. Thank you for understanding.

We offer COVID-19 testing at the following locations. You must have a referral and appointment to receive a test.

Please note: These are drive-through testing sites, and vehicles must be shorter than 8 ft. Face coverings are required for everyone in the vehicle.

• Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora 
  • Testing site: 1575 Wheeling Street, Aurora, CO 80045
  • Hours: Open 7 days a week from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
  • By appointment only
  • Questions? Call 720-777-0001.
    
    ^{Map of Anschutz Medical Campus testing site}
• Briargate Outpatient and Specialty Care
  • Testing site: 4125 Briargate Pkwy., Colorado Springs, CO 80920
  • Hours: Open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • By appointment only
  • Questions? Call 719-305-0005.
    
    ^{Map of Briargate testing site}

Please be sure to come prepared with the following:

• Face coverings
• Identification, such as a driver’s license or insurance card, for you and your child
• If your doctor did not send the referral electronically, bring the referral from your doctor. A referral on a prescription pad or a photo or screenshot of the referral will work. The referral must have your child’s name on it.
• A toy or stuffed animal for younger children
• Tissues for minor irritation, runny nose or sneezing after the nose swab

Please note: Face coverings are required for all passengers as you proceed through the drive-through testing site. Our team members will tell you when your child can briefly remove their mask for the test. Get the details about face covering requirements for patients and visitors.

Your doctor will order the kind of sample they need to best to plan for your child’s care. We collect samples for viral COVID-19 testing using several methods: 

• A nasopharyngeal (NP) swab, a long cotton swab to reach the back of the nose where it meets the throat. 
• A nasal mid-turbinate (NMT) swab, a shorter swab that reaches the middle of the nasal passage. 
• Saliva testing. Note: This is only available for certain patients.

We strive to make this process as safe and easy as we can. Please expect to follow these steps for your COVID-19 test.

Please note: We cannot test other family members or individuals who do not have a scheduled appointment.

• Once you arrive at your testing location you will follow a designated route to our drive-up test.
• Our team members will greet you wearing protective equipment, including masks, gowns and gloves.
• You and your child will remain in your car. One of our team members will come to the car to collect a sample specimen.
• The type of sample we need depends on several factors, including your child’s age, whether they have symptoms and whether they need to be tested for the coronavirus alone or with other respiratory illnesses.
• We’ll take a sample from the nose (NP or NMT swab) or the mouth (saliva test). Our team will explain what steps they are taking throughout the process.

Nasopharyngeal (NP) swab test

• Our team will collect an NP sample by inserting a long, narrow swab into the nostril and up to the nasopharynx: the upper part of the throat (pharynx) that lies behind the nose.
• Once in the nasopharynx, they will rotate the NP swab to collect fluids and mucus around the nose and throat. This is the most effective way to collect a sample to look for signs of the coronavirus. It’s quick, but it will feel uncomfortable.
• Next, we’ll place the swab in a saline vial and transport it to our lab for the saline to be tested for signs of the coronavirus’ genetic material.

Nasal mid-turbinate (NMT) swab test

• Our team will collect a NMT sample by inserting a narrow swab into the nostril and up the nasal passage about 1 inch until it reaches the turbinates, several small bones in the middle of the nose.
• They will rotate the NMT swab to collect fluids and mucus from inside the nose, then repeat the swab inside the other nostril.
• Next, they’ll place the swab in a saline vial and transport it to our lab for the saline to be tested for signs of the coronavirus’ genetic material. 

Mouth/saliva test

Saliva testing is only available for symptomatic patients ages 4 to 18. Your child's provider determines the type of test needed.

• If your child will have a saliva test, we highly recommend that they avoid eating or drinking at least 10 minutes before the appointment.
• Our team will provide a small saliva collection device for your child. As we prepare it, we will instruct your child to move their tongue from side to side to help accumulate saliva.
• We’ll help your child place the collection device under their tongue and tilt their head forward. It’s very important that they not suck on or chew on the device.
• The device will absorb saliva for the next 2 to 5 minutes. When there is enough saliva, an indicator will turn blue and we’ll help your child remove the device from their mouth.
• Next, we’ll place the swab into a tube to be transported to the lab for testing.

You will receive your child’s test results in MyChart or from their doctor.

This likely depends on your child’s pain tolerance, but most children describe the nose swab as uncomfortable, annoying or odd, rather than painful.

If your child needs an NP swab, the swab will touch sinus tissue and nerves, which can cause your child to feel uncomfortable and make their eyes water. NMT swabs do not reach as far and tend to be more comfortable than an NP swab.

Either way, the test only takes a few seconds and these uncomfortable feelings only last for a short time.

If your child is nervous about getting a test, here are some helpful tips from our child life specialists:

• Ask your child to take big, deep breaths.
• Hold their hand while they’re going through the test.
• Have them bring their favorite stuffed animal or toy from home to hold or play with during the test.

Most insurers are covering COVID-19 PCR tests. There are charges for the COVID-19 PCR test, and Children’s Colorado will bill your insurance plan, which in most cases should pay in full.

If your family wants to self-pay, please discuss this with our team at the same time you schedule your appointment. The cash price of the test is $90; credit cards are accepted.

Please note: If your child gets tested for other respiratory infections, such as the flu or whooping cough, you may receive additional charges. Your out-of-pocket cost may vary by insurance plan and type of test(s). If you have questions about which tests are needed to direct your child’s care, please contact the doctor who ordered the tests.

Questions?

We’re here to help.

For questions before your child’s test:

When you call to make an appointment, our team will help explain the next steps and do their best to answer your questions about insurance, billing and more.

For questions about the type of test(s) ordered and why:

Please contact the doctor who ordered your child’s test(s).

For questions about cost:

If you have questions about cost, please call or e-mail our patient cost estimates team at 720-777-0720 or Cost.Estimate@childrenscolorado.org. We are available from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday through Friday, or through email anytime.

In order to receive a saliva test, your child must:

• Be between the age of 4 and 18.
• Have symptoms of COVID-19.
  • These include fever, cough and/or sore throat, runny nose, shortness of breath, new loss of taste or smell, fatigue with or without body ache, abdominal pain and/or diarrhea, nausea with or without vomiting, rash or conjunctivitis.
• Be an outpatient.
• Be tested for COVID-19 alone (no additional tests, such as for the flu or RSV).
• Have their saliva collection observed by a healthcare worker.
  • We can only test samples that have been collected at our mobile testing sites or were collected by a qualified healthcare worker in a doctor’s office.

If you have questions about your child’s eligibility, please ask their doctor. The ordering provider determines which test is most appropriate.

In a study performed by Children’s Colorado, we confirmed that our PCR test is sensitive enough to detect the coronavirus in the saliva of symptomatic patients. (When comparing test results from NP and saliva samples in the same patients, the results were the same.)

However, when we tested the saliva of patients without symptoms of COVID-19 (asymptomatic infection), sensitivity was much lower compared to NP samples.

A nasopharyngeal (NP) swab is the best method (called the “gold standard”) for detecting the coronavirus. An NP swab is still the most accurate way to test for the coronavirus in patients who do not have symptoms.

Children’s Colorado began collecting NMT swabs in fall of 2021. This collection method is more comfortable for some patients, and recent studies have shown that the results are similar to NP swabs.

Collecting a saliva sample is often easier and more comfortable than using an NP swab, especially for younger children.

Saliva testing is only available for patients between 4 and 18 years old. This is because it’s difficult for young children under age 4 to follow the directions, and the device can fall apart if it’s chewed or sucked on.

We do not have data to support saliva testing for young adults age 19 and older.

Unfortunately, no. We can only use saliva samples to test for SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. If your doctor requests additional testing, such as a full respiratory panel to test for influenza or other viruses, we require a sample from the nose (NP or NMT swab).

Children’s Colorado recently reduced COVID-19 testing requirements for many surgeries and procedures. 

We now test patients for COVID-19 before certain surgical procedures. This helps ensure that we identify and prevent the spread of COVID-19 while providing the safest care for children and protecting our healthcare workers.

We require a PCR COVID-19 test before a medical procedure in the following situations:

• Surgical procedures that involve the patient’s airway or mouth.
• Surgical procedures that require the patient to be admitted to the hospital after surgery.
• When the patient screens positive for certain risk factors like a positive test, exposure to COVID-19 or symptoms of COVID-19. (See below.)

If your child meets any of the criteria above, they will need a COVID-19 test before surgery. The test must be performed at Children’s Colorado or UCHealth 2 to 3 days before surgery. If you are interested in receiving a test at a UCHealth location, please reach out to your care team or our scheduling line for details. If you are traveling for surgery, please discuss scheduling options with your care team.

Please note: Patients who need to be tested before a medical procedure or surgery are not eligible for saliva testing. These patients will be tested using a swab in the nose, which is most accurate. Your doctor will order either a NP or NMT swab based on the type of procedure. Some patients, such as oncology patients, may need the NP swab.

Pre-procedure screening

In the days leading up to your child’s surgery, we will ask the following screening questions. Depending on the timing, we will also screen your child during scheduling or via phone, text or MyChart reminders.

1. In the past 21 days, has the patient been diagnosed with COVID-19?
2. In the past 21 days, has the patient been tested for COVID-19 and either received a positive test or is still waiting for test results?
3. Aside from visiting Children’s Colorado for clinical care, in the past 14 days, has the patient traveled outside of their state of residency? 
4. In the past 14 days, has the patient lived with anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 or tested for COVID-19? If they were tested, did they receive a positive test or are they still waiting for test results?
5. In the past 24 hours, has the patient experienced any of the following symptoms
   • Loss of taste and/or smell, shortness of breath, cough, fever (temperature greater than 38C or 100.4F), runny nose, sore throat, headache, fatigue, muscle aches, chills, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea

If you answer yes to any of the above, a COVID-19 test will be required. Our team is available to help schedule the test and answer any questions you may have.

Our team is available to help schedule the test and answer any questions you may have. If you are traveling for surgery, please discuss scheduling options with your care team. They can help you book an appointment for the test at a time and location that is most convenient for you.

At Children’s Colorado, your child’s safety is our top priority. Ensuring that your child does not have COVID-19 before certain surgeries or procedures involving the airway or mouth is very important for keeping your child and their medical team safe.

Having test results before surgery gives your child’s medical team a complete picture of their health and the ability to plan before surgery begins. We use the most accurate type of testing available, molecular PCR testing, to keep everyone safe.

Though the swab is uncomfortable for some children, the momentary discomfort it causes is less harmful than the potential harm from delaying medical treatment. Our team members have experience working with children and take extra steps to make the testing process as comfortable for them as possible. If your child is nervous, these tips can help:

• Help them take big, deep breaths.
• Hold their hand during the test.
• Have them pick out a toy or stuffed animal from home to hold or play with during the appointment.

While the widespread availability of COVID-19 vaccines is promising and should be celebrated, we are not near the end of the pandemic quite yet. It will take time before we can vaccinate enough of the population to greatly reduce transmission. Testing, quarantine and isolation – along with other steps to prevent COVID-19 – are still crucial for these reasons.

A COVID-19 test is not required for a patient visit to the emergency department, nor is it required to receive necessary emergent care (including emergency surgery). An emergent surgery is a surgery requiring a life- or limb-saving procedure or a surgery that would have negative effects on a patient if postponed.

Test results will typically be available in MyChart within 24 hours of your appointment. During busy times, such as a surge in cases like in the fall of 2020, it could take up to 48 hours, though this is unlikely.

Keep in mind that all tests are processed at our laboratory in Aurora and that PCR testing of this quality takes time. While our hardworking team strives to make results available within a 24-hour timeframe, this is not always possible due to the time it takes to transport samples from collection sites to our lab, increased demand for testing and potential adverse weather conditions.

Children's Colorado will release your child’s test results through MyChart. The provider who ordered the test may also communicate the results to you, and you should reach out to them if you have questions.

If your child's pediatrician ordered the test, they will receive your child's test results through MyChart, fax or, if connected, our electronic medical record.

Do I need to have an existing MyChart account to get test results?

No. If you do not have a MyChart account for your child, our schedulers can now activate one for you when you call to schedule your appointment.

What if I need help with MyChart?

If you need assistance creating a MyChart account or requesting an access code, please call the MyChart help desk at 720-777-6939. The help desk is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

You can also request family access to a patient's MyChart account via the MyChart website. Please note that it can take up to 2 business days to process, so we recommend calling when possible.

If your child tests positive for the coronavirus, talk to their doctor about how to care for them.

Have your child follow these steps if they test positive for the coronavirus:

• Isolate (stay away from others) for at least 10 days from when their symptoms started. (Isolation separates sick people with a contagious disease from people who are not sick.)
• Your child should also show no signs of fever for 24 hours and see other symptoms get better before they end their isolation.
• Stay home except for when getting medical care.
• Contact anyone your child has been with for more than 15 minutes and within 6 feet and let them know about your child’s positive test. These individuals should enter quarantine.

Always check local isolation and quarantine advice for the most up-to-date information.

How can I safely care for my child if they have COVID-19?

You should follow any specific instructions from your doctor about how to care for your child at home. As with any other illness, it is important to keep your child hydrated, so be sure they drink plenty of fluids (like water) even if they are not hungry. Learn our top tips for getting your child to drink more water.

Acetaminophen or ibuprofen may be used to help with fever or pain. The American Academy of Pediatrics agrees with the World Health Organization about the use of ibuprofen during the COVID-19 pandemic. Right now, there is not enough evidence to avoid taking ibuprofen, unless you have a medical condition that makes ibuprofen less safe.

You should always wash your hands after caring for your child while they are sick.

What should I do if we need to come back to the clinic or hospital?

Call ahead before visiting the doctor. You should let the clinic or hospital know that your child was diagnosed with COVID-19. This will help them take the right steps to see your child safely and to keep other people from being exposed.

Remember, face coverings are required upon entering Children's Colorado. We encourage you to bring a face covering from home. If you do not have a face covering, we can provide each visitor one homemade face covering while our supplies last. Visitors or patients who are sick may be given a different type of mask.

Should I be tested for COVID-19? Should the rest of my family?

Getting tested is an important part of stopping the spread of COVID-19. This is because it helps you and your doctor determine when you need to enter quarantine or isolation. We recommend that anyone with symptoms of COVID-19, even mild symptoms, get tested.

If you don’t have symptoms, you don’t need to be tested, unless you know you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.

If your child tests negative for the coronavirus, they should continue taking steps to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, including:

• Getting vaccinated, when they are eligible.
• Wearing a face covering in public.
• Staying 6 feet away from others when in public.
• Frequently washing their hands.

Take note: A negative test does not mean that your child can’t get the virus in the future. Doctors do not yet fully understand infections caused by COVID-19.

Isolation separates sick people with a contagious disease (a disease that spreads from person to person like COVID-19) from people who are not sick.

If your child has tested positive for COVID-19 or has symptoms of COVID-19 but has not been tested, they should isolate at home according to the most current isolation guidelines.

During isolation, a sick person should stay home, stay away from others and not have any visitors come to the home.

Isolation in the hospital works differently than at home. Please ask your doctor if you have questions about isolation in the hospital or if your child is immunocompromised.

Quarantine separates people who have been exposed to others with a contagious disease to see if they become sick.

Anyone who has had close contact with someone who has COVID-19 or has symptoms of COVID-19 should enter quarantine and follow current quarantine guidelines.

Like all tests, the COVID-19 test is not 100% accurate.

The lab at Children’s Colorado uses a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test that can find a very small amount of virus. This is considered the "gold standard" for COVID-19 testing and is highly accurate.

If your child tests positive, they almost certainly have the virus. A “false-positive” result is very rare.

If your child tests negative for the coronavirus, it’s unlikely, but possible, that it is a “false-negative.” This could happen for several reasons:

• The swab missed the virus due to a poorly collected specimen or if your child is shedding the virus intermittently
• There’s a small chance there could be an issue with the test itself
• They may have been tested too early or too late in the course of their infection. (More on that below.) Current research suggests the virus can be best found during the first few days of symptoms.

Learn about the different types of COVID-19 tests and how they differ.

Yes, test results are only valid at the time the sample is taken.

There are several reasons for differences between test results, including:

• There could be an issue with the test that creates a “false-negative” test.
• Your child could be tested too early or too late during the infection when there is not enough virus in the body (called viral load) to cause a positive test.
• Your child might not have the infection when they are tested but could be exposed to the virus later.

No matter the results, you should still take all measures to protect your child, your family and others against the coronavirus.

We do not offer rapid antigen testing at Children's Colorado. This type of viral diagnostic testing is not as accurate as PCR testing.

Please review your school's testing guidelines before scheduling your child's COVID test. Requirements for the type of test can vary by school and school district. For example, some schools require a PCR test (the kind of test we use at Children's Colorado) instead of a rapid antigen test, which is not as accurate as PCR testing.

Review FAQs about when your child should be tested and the types of tests in our school safety resource.

Additional testing options are available in the community. To find another COVID testing location:

• First, call your primary care provider to ask about testing. Many doctors now provide COVID-19 testing in their offices.
• The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has more than 80 free COVID-19 testing centers around the state. These sites do not require identification, insurance or a doctor’s note.

If your child needs a COVID-19 test but is otherwise well, please do not bring them to the Emergency Department. Several more convenient and cost-effective testing options are available.

Though your child’s primary care doctor needs to order the test, you do not need an appointment.

We offer coronavirus antibody testing via blood draw Monday through Friday at any of our lab locations. All samples will be sent to our lab in Aurora for processing.

Some pediatric practices may be able to perform the blood draw in their office and send it to the Children’s Colorado lab via courier. Please ask your child’s pediatrician if you are interested in this option.

To perform an antibody test, we’ll take a small sample of your child’s blood through a blood draw. Learn tips and what to expect from your child’s blood draw.

Like all patients and visitors, you will be screened at the entrance and required to wear a face covering. You can see our visitation policy for more information.

If your child tests positive it means your child has SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. This likely means that your child had a COVID-19 infection in the past. (Note: A COVID-19 vaccination may also create a positive antibody test, but this depends on the type of antibody test. Ask your doctor if you have questions.)

A positive test for antibodies does not show that your child currently has the coronavirus. A positive test also does not mean that your child is immune to another COVID-19 infection.

Even if your child tests positive for COVID-19 antibodies, they should continue to take precautions against the coronavirus.

A negative antibody test could mean several things, including:

1. Your child has not had COVID-19 before.
2. Your child had COVID-19 in the past but did not develop or has not yet developed detectable antibodies.
3. The result may be wrong, known as a false negative.

If your child’s antibody test is negative, they should continue to take all precautions against the coronavirus.

The accuracy of an antibody test depends on the quality of the test and how common the disease is within your community. Both of these factors are constantly changing.

The more common the coronavirus is with your community, the more accurate the test is.

If you have questions, please talk to your child’s pediatrician about the accuracy of your particular test.

Learn about the different types of COVID-19 tests and how they differ.

No, a positive antibody test does not mean your child can’t get the coronavirus again. Though it’s uncommon, there have been reports of re-infection. Some newer strains of the coronavirus, called variants, are also better at causing re-infection. 

Remember, medical experts are still learning about the new coronavirus; information and advice may change as we learn more about the virus and how it acts.