COVID-19 Testing in Rhode Island

If you're fully vaccinated, the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) recommends getting tested for COVID-19 if: 

  • You have symptoms of COVID-19. 
  • You plan to travel out of state. Check with the health department in the state or country you are traveling to for quarantine guidance and testing requirements.
  • You are returning from out-of-state travel. Vaccinated travelers are still encouraged to get a COVID-19 test between 5 and 10 days after out-of-state travel.

People are considered fully vaccinated two or more weeks after they have received the second dose of a two-dose series (for Pfizer and Moderna vaccines) or two or more weeks after they have received the single dose of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine. Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine. 

If you're not yet fully vaccinated, get tested weekly. You should also get tested if you are not vaccinated and have been identified as a close contact of someone who tested positive. 

There are several ways to get tested for COVID-19 in Rhode Island.  Click here or on the map to find the test site closest to you.

  • Schedule a free test for yourself or a dependent child at a State site. All Rhode Islanders can schedule a test online at portal.ri.gov or by calling 401-222-8022.
  • Get a free rapid test in your local community. Pawtucket and Central Falls residents can call the Beat COVID Hotline at 855-843-7620 to learn more.
  • Call your primary care provider or child’s pediatrician. Ask if they do point-of-care testing or if they can schedule a test for you.
  • Make an appointment at a local respiratory clinic.
covid testing site locator

All Rhode Islanders can schedule a free COVID-19 test for themselves or their dependent child on portal.ri.gov, regardless of whether they have symptoms or insurance. 

  • Some State sites are walk-through, and others are drive-through. This list has more information about each location.

Results from any State-run test sites can be accessed on portal.ri.gov/results.

For rapid testing, go to portal.ri.gov and schedule an appointment for a BinaxNOW rapid antigen test at one of several locations across the State. Locations that offer rapid testing are noted on the self-scheduling portal. 

Rapid  testing with same-day results is also available at community testing events. These events are for residents in the local community. Testing is free and appointments are not required.

Confirmatory testing protocol

The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) recommends follow-up PCR testing if:

  • You have symptoms and get a negative result on your rapid antigen test.
  • You do not have symptoms and get a positive result on your rapid antigen test.

RIDOH does not recommend follow-up PCR testing if:

  • You have symptoms and get a positive result on your rapid test.
  • You do not have symptoms and get a negative result on your rapid test.

Rhode Island adopted this protocol in accordance with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The updated protocol supports Rhode Island’s effective clinical use of rapid tests in different testing situations. A follow-up PCR test also confirms whether you and your close contacts need to isolate or quarantine.

Any State-run test site can give you the follow-up PCR test. If you leave the test site before your rapid result is ready, you can schedule a follow-up PCR test at portal.ri.gov or by calling 401-222-8022. 

If you got your rapid test at a K-12 school, you can go to any general-public test site or K-12 test site to get your follow-up PCR test. Learn more about testing K-12 students and staff.

PCR tests are sent to a lab. Results are usually ready in 1 to 2 days on portal.ri.gov/results. It is very important that you stay home and away from others as much as possible while you wait for your results. Do not go to school or work.

It is highly recommended that you get your follow-up PCR test on the same day you had your rapid antigen test.  If you do not get your recommended PCR test within 48 hours after your rapid test, RIDOH will consider your positive rapid result final and start contact tracing.

If your follow-up PCR test result is negative, you are not infected with COVID-19 and may return to school or work. Contact tracing is not needed. Close contacts do not need to quarantine.

If your follow-up PCR test result is positive, you have COVID-19 and should isolate at home. Contact tracing is needed. Close contacts should quarantine. More information is available at covid.ri.gov/whattodo.

At-home COVID-19 tests are now available at some stores and pharmacies in Rhode Island. You can report a positive or negative result to RIDOH by calling the COVID-19 Info Line at 401-222-8022 and selecting option 6. Learn more about reporting at-home test results to RIDOH. 

If you are a close contact of someone who tested positive, you cannot use an at-home test to shorten quarantine. Schedule a COVID-19 test at a State-run testing site on portal.ri.gov.

If you are using an at-home test because you plan to travel out of state, check with the department of health in the state or country you are traveling to for quarantine and testing requirements. Some states, countries, or airlines may not accept at-home tests as proof of a negative result. 

Check with the health department in the state or country you are traveling to for quarantine guidance and testing requirements. 

Rhode Islanders planning to travel to a state that requires a COVID-19 test in order to avoid extended quarantine can schedule a test on portal.ri.gov. Since some states and airlines require a lab report as proof of a negative result, RIDOH recommends travelers schedule a PCR test. The result of this test is usually ready in two days.

If you are using an at-home test because you plan to travel out of state, check with the department of health in the state or country you are traveling to for quarantine and testing requirements. Some states, countries, or airlines may not accept at-home tests as proof of a negative result. 

Rhode Islanders travelling to Hawaii should schedule a COVID-19 test at a Walgreens Pharmacy. Tests processed through Rhode Island's COVID-19 testing program will not qualify, according to Hawaii’s travel partner criteria. 

More travel information is available here.

The Rhode Island Department of Health recommends all close contacts of people with COVID-19 get tested on day 5 of quarantine or later. If the result is negative, a close contact can end their quarantine after day 7 but should continue to watch for symptoms for 14 days from exposure.

If you are a close contact of someone who tested positive, you cannot use an at-home test to shorten quarantine. Schedule a COVID-19 test at a State-run testing site on portal.ri.gov or contact your healthcare provider.

Learn more about close contact quarantine requirements.

This program provides Rhode Island businesses with rapid COVID-19 test kits and the training they need so they can conduct regular testing of employees. The employer agrees to train its team, conduct the tests, and report results to RIDOH.

For more information, call the Business Testing Contact Center at 888-662-4354 or email [email protected]. This contact center is open on weekdays from 7:30 a.m.- 7:00 p.m. and on weekends from 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.

If you would like to discontinue COVID-19 testing in your workplace, please follow these out-processing procedures.