Are you interested in COVID-19 testing prior to hosting or attending a holiday gathering? The Union County Health Department is offering a holiday COVID-19 test kit distribution. To request test kits for the upcoming holiday gathering season, click here. Requested test kits can then be picked up curbside outside the Union County Health Department on Dec. 15 & 16 from 9am-4pm. Currently you can request as many kits as you need for your family Thanksgiving gatherings, however we reserve the right to limit kits should demand exceed supply.
Home Test Kit
Free at-home COVID-19 test kits are available for pickup at the Union County Health Department. Click on the blue button below to pick up a test kit. Test kits are held for 24 hours and can be picked up from 8am-4pm. If you are having symptoms or had known exposure to someone with COVID-19, please use our curbside pick up by calling (937) 642-2053 when you arrive. Please do not come into our lobby. If you are picking up kits to have on hand in the event of symptoms or exposure, you can pick up kits in the main lobby of the Union County Health Department, 940 London Avenue, Marysville. Limit of 4 tests per household. These home test kits use nasal swabs to provide results in minutes. The test is self-administered. Currently we are out of kits that provide verified results using a telehealth proctor. Only kits that do not come with telehealth support are available.
PCR Drive-Thru Tests – Discontinued
The Union County Health Department has ended drive thru community PCR testing at the Union County Fairgrounds due to low demand. Many local retail pharmacies including CVS, Kroger, Meijer, and Walgreens offer PCR testing with online scheduling (search COVID testing). Please call or go to the website of these locations to current testing availability.
Home Test Kit Instructions & How to Report a Positive Result
Please report a positive COVID-19 test result through the Navica App on your smart phone or online through Navica. Once you report a positive result through Navica, one of our disease interviewers will attempt to call you within 24-72 hours to collect basic information about your illness. You can also report a positive result through our online form. If you do not have a smart phone or internet access, you can report a positive result by calling (937) 642-2053. Click on the links below for step-by-step instructions on how to report using the app or online methods.
- For kits with 2 test per box (over the counter kits): Abbott BinaxNOW Rapid COVID-19 Antigen At-Home Test Kit Patient Instructions for Use
- For kits with 1 test per box (proctored telehealth kits): abbott_binaxnow_patient_instructions_for_use REV2
Union County Locations Distributing At-Home Test Kits
Test kits can be picked up at the following Union County locations. Please call ahead as curbside or lobby pickup must be arranged prior to your arrival. These tests are not to be administered inside the libraries or health department. A sincere thank you to our local library partners for their efforts in providing this service to our community.
Marysville Public Library – Curbside pickup only. Please call ahead.
231 S. Plum Street
Marysville, OH 43040
937-642-1876 (or TEXT 937-303-8784)
Richwood- North Union Public Library – Curbside pickup only. Please call ahead.
4 East Ottawa Street
Richwood, OH 43344
740-943-3054
Union County Health Department – Curbside pickup.
940 London Avenue, Suite 1100
Marysville, OH 43040
937-642-2053
Lower Lights UnionStar Health Center – Lobby pickup. Please call ahead.
773 South Walnut Street
Marysville, OH 43040
614-274-1455
Wings Support & Recovery – Please call ahead.
729 South Walnut Street
Marysville, OH 43040
937-642-9555
To see a full list of locations providing COVID-19 tests, visit https://ohio.emed.com/.
These test kits detect COVID-19 antigens and are best suited for testing of people with current symptoms or routine testing that may be required by an employer or facility. These test kits are NOT PCR molecular tests and results of these test kits may NOT be accepted by commercial travel providers or travel destinations. Please check with the provider of your mode of transport and your destination prior to using these kits to meet any testing requirements for domestic or international travel.
Click here to learn more from the manufacturer about these test kits.
video produced by Abbott, manufacturer of the test kits
Antibody Testing
The American Red Cross is testing all blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies. Results may indicate a donor’s potential past exposure to this coronavirus – regardless of whether they experienced symptoms. Testing may also identify the presence of antibodies developed after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.
Click here to learn more about antibody testing from the American Red Cross.
Differences in COVID-19 Tests
Molecular Test: A molecular test looks for the genetic material of the specific SARS CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. This test is called a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test. This is the test used when we report lab confirmed cases. A sample for testing is collected by a swab in the nose or throat. Results typically take several days. There are also rapid molecular tests termed “Point of Care” that provide results rapidly.
Antigen Test: Antigen tests are the most common type of COVID test. Most home test kits are typically an antigen test. An antigen test looks for certain proteins from the virus. A sample for testing is collected by a swab in the nose or throat. Results are rapid, available within minutes to hours. An individual with a positive antigen test would also need to meet one of two other criteria to be classified as a probable case – clinical evidence of illness (symptoms consistent with COVID-19) or evidence of exposure to a known case.
Antibody Test: Antibody tests, also called serological tests, look for antibodies that indicate a past infection. A blood draw is used for testing. This is the type of test offered by the American Red Cross on blood donations. This test only detects if antibodies have developed, likely from a past infection. This test is not used to diagnose COVID-19. This test also does not mean you have immunity if you have antibodies. Researchers still don’t know if immunity develops after an infection, and if it does, for how long it may protect.
Check out this link from the Mayo Clinic for more information: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/expert-answers/covid-antibody-tests/faq-20484429?fbclid=IwAR26JiaoDkwLRFV0wTY8jovrtnaIHL33RppIyrVgIkNmV6_iPa-mKw9erOA