University Health Services require students to get a COVID-19 test three days prior to arriving in Austin. It also suggest students voluntarily participate in free asymptomatic COVID-19 testing up to twice a week once classes start. 

As stated in an email to students, UHS requires a viral test, meaning an antigen or PCR test. Antibody tests will not be accepted. Once students receive their test results, they should upload them to the UHS student portal.

To simplify the testing process, The Daily Texan compiled a list of free COVID-19 testing sites in Austin.

On-Campus Testing Sites

University Health Services Proactive Community Testing – 100 W. Dean Keeton St. & 201 E. 21st St.

University Health Services holds appointment-only testing in the Glenn Maloney Room of the Student Services Building and in the Jester West Fireplace Lounge.

When taking the nasal swab test, UT students and staff must not have any COVID-19 symptoms or have tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 10 days. For the saliva test, there must be a 90-day gap since one’s last positive test. Find more information and how to schedule an appointment on the UHS website.

The Health Transformation Building at UT Health Austin – 1601 Trinity St.

The clinic offers walk-in PCR testing Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for people without symptoms on the first floor, Suite 1.701.

For people with symptoms, drive-thru testing remains available by appointment Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Information on hours of operation and ways to receive results are available on the UT Health Austin website.

Off-Campus Testing Sites 

Walking/Bus Commute

Texas Capitol Building – 1100 Congress Ave., Room E1.010

A 16-minute walk from campus, the Capitol building offers free walk-up testing Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You can also take bus #7 from the San Jacinto/Dean Keeton NW Corner.

CommUnity Care – 1000 E. 41st St. #925

CommUnity Care provides limited appointment-only testing, available by calling (512) 978-9015. Students can reach CommUnity Care using bus #10, which departs from the 2525 San Jacinto/Dean Keeton bus stop.

Driving Distances

FastMed Urgent Care – 1920 E. Riverside Dr. #110.

For students in the Riverside area, FastMed Urgent Care offers PCT testing at its Riverside location. To view both available times and tests, visit the Riverside location website.

St. Johns Testing Site (Drive-Thru Only) – 7211 N. Interstate 35 Frontage Road

A 10-minute drive from campus, St. Johns offers drive-thru testing Tuesday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Appointments are not required but recommended and scheduling can be made through the Austin COVID-19 website.

George Morales Dove Springs Recreation Center – 5801 Ainez Drive

Although it’s a longer commute for students, the George Morales site is open Tuesday and Wednesday from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Appointments are also not required, but strongly recommended. They are made available through the Austin COVID-19 website.

Curative – multiple locations

Curative offers two testing locations in Austin, both of which only administer nasal swab tests. Appointments are required, so availability and locations can be found through the Curative website.

4211 S. Lamar Blvd.

2500 W. Parmer Lane

CVS – multiple locations

The pharmacy offers drive-thru testing throughout various Austin locations, though spots are very limited. Locations closest to campus include:

2610 Lake Austin Blvd. 

5526 South Congress Ave. 

1950 W. William Cannon 

11300 North Lamar Blvd. 

More locations are listed on the CVS website.

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story stated that UHS requires students take a PCR test. The story has since been corrected to say that UHS requires a viral test, meaning an antigen or PCR test. The Texan regrets this error.