After an initial telehealth visit, you will be notified in advance by phone of your appointment time at the outdoor evaluation center.
The outdoor evaluation center is an outdoor area with large tents.
Wait in your car until a CHOC employee comes to check you in. Please ensure all vehicle passengers wear a mask.
Your child should stay seated in the car and wearing a seatbelt.
A nurse or respiratory therapist will ask you a few questions and take your child’s temperature before beginning the test.
They will wear yellow or white gowns, gloves, masks and face shields.
The COVID-19 test is done using a nasal swab. This might sound scary, but if your child can relax, the test takes just 5 seconds.
There are some things you can do to make the process easier:
Bring a small comfort item for your child to hold.
You can try sitting next to your child and holding their wrists, if necessary.
Parents may sit younger children in their laps and wrap their arms around them.
The provider can also help hold your child steady, if necessary.
After counting to 5, the provider will insert the swab into the back of the child’s nose, twist it, and then pull it out.
Inserting the swab this far into the nose is necessary to ensure the provider gets a proper specimen.
The test feels funny. It may feel similar to when water gets in your nose at the pool or beach. Your child might sneeze and their eyes may water.
It can take up to 14 days for your child’s test If the test is positive, you will receive a telephone call by the end of the day or, in some cases, early the next morning. Any scheduled procedure will be canceled.
You will receive a phone call with your child’s test results. It can take up to 14 days.
Even if the test is negative, the child should isolate at home for 14 days after contact with someone who has COVID-19. If the child has shown COVID-19 symptoms, they should isolate at home for 10 days after symptoms began and for at least 24 hours after a fever has resolved.
