Staff and students who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or have been exposed to someone with the virus may be tested for free at a drive-through COVID-19 testing site, which opened in early March.

The testing site is open from 8 a.m. until 12 noon weekdays at the Capital Region Education Service District 113 (ESD 113), 6005 Tyee Dr. S.W. in Tumwater.

Note: At this time, the free testing is open only to school and ESD staff and enrolled students. It is not available to family members, or the general community.

Pre-register online

Participants are encouraged to pre-register online before arriving at the testing site. Parents/guardians who pre-register their student online will also be asked to fill out a permission slip that allows test results to be shared with their student’s school district. This form is available at Capital Region ESD 113’s website and at the testing site.

• To pre-register visit the ESD 113 website and use your school specific registration link.
• COVID-19 tests will be processed by the Curative lab. The lab will contact participants by email or text with test results in approximately 3 days.
• Please do not report to work or in-person learning/activities if you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and awaiting your results.

Who can be tested?

• The test is available to students and staff — both those learning remotely and those learning in person on school campuses.
• The test used at the site is most effective in people who are being tested for COVID-19 within 14 days of the onset of symptoms. View COVID-19 symptoms on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
• The test is recommended for ages 4 and up. If you are under the age of 18, a parent or guardian must accompany you to the test.
• The test is available regardless of citizenship/immigration status.
• Participants do not need to have health insurance to be tested, and no one will receive a bill for their test. If you have health insurance and provide that information, the lab will bill your insurance for the cost of testing.
• People who do not meet the above criteria but want to be tested for COVID-19 should contact their health care provider or one of the testing locations on the Thurston County Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) website.

What to expect at the testing site

• Do not eat, drink, chew gum, use mouthwash or smoke once you have arrived at the site. Doing these activities within 20 minutes of your test could affect your results.
• You must wear a face covering over your nose and mouth when visiting the site.
• This is a self-swab testing site. The entire process takes about 10-20 minutes to complete.
• This is an oral saliva test; participants should not experience any discomfort. Participants are given instructions on how to properly swab their mouths to administer the test under observation while in their vehicles.
• Go to the ESD 113 website to review FAQs and watch a video on the testing process.
• The site is a drive-through location only.

What happens if a student or staff member develops COVID-19 symptoms after their arrival at school?

• Students will proceed to the Isolation Room. School staff will call a parent. The school health professional will offer the COVID-19 test for the student once the parent arrives and provides written permission.
• Staff will notify their supervisor and leave campus (follow the flowchart protocols).

The free diagnostic testing is made possible as part of “Learn to Return” — a state-funded program in collaboration between the Gates Foundation, Washington State Department of Health, state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Curative, and the non-profit Health Commons Project. The program is designed to keep students and staff as safe and healthy as possible regardless of whether they are in remote or in-person learning.