What You Need to Know About COVID Testing

With the explosion of COVID across our state (there were 20,483 new cases reported on the NJ COVID Dashboard today) we share some of the latest updates and reminders about COVID testing from the NJ Department of Health and the CDC. 

Free at-home COVID-19 Saliva Tests

Free, at-home COVID-19 saliva test kits are available to every New Jerseyan who thinks they need a test – even if they don't have symptoms.  To order a free test kit, visit learn.vaulthealth.com/nj.

The kit will be shipped through UPS with next-day delivery. Once received, you will connect over Zoom with a Vault healthcare professional who will walk you through the test and answer your questions.

When complete, the test can be sent back in a prepaid package via UPS next-day shipping. You will receive your test results 24 to 48 hours after your sample arrives at the lab.

You will not be charged for the test, and you will not be asked for your credit card information.

To take the test, you will need to connect with a Vault collection supervisor online by logging into your online Vault patient portal with the email address or username you used to order the test kit. You will then enter Vault's virtual waiting room during the hours listed below. No appointments are needed.

• Sunday-Thursday: 8am – 8pm EST
• Friday: 8am – 6pm EST
• Saturday: 8am – 6pm EST

You will then connect with a collection supervisor on Zoom (download the free version here).

** Do not open your collection kit before your Zoom session, and DO NOT eat, drink, smoke, or chew anything for 30 minutes before taking the test.  **

In order to get your results, you must collect your saliva sample while being observed by a Vault collection supervisor.

Wait times for a clinician are generally 15 minutes or less. Wait times are longest over the noon hour.

COVID-19 Testing Locations in NJ

Free testing is available to everyone in New Jersey.  Insurance is not needed.  Get tested when:

• You have COVID-19 symptoms after being exposed, even if you are fully vaccinated or recently recovered from COVID-19 in the last 3 months.
• You have been in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19.
• You were recently in a large gathering where social distancing was hard to maintain or a crowded indoor setting and are not fully vaccinated or recently recovered.
• You must travel and are not fully vaccinated, get a viral test 1-3 days before travel and 3-5 days after travel.

Note: Fully vaccinated people who have come in close contact with someone with COVID-19 should get tested 5-7 days following the date of their exposure and wear a mask in public indoor settings for 14 days or until they receive a negative test result. They should isolate if they test positive.

Check out the COVID-19 Test Site Finder, searchable by address, city, or zip code.  Included in this resource are pharmacies and medical labs.  It is recommended that you verify the testing site requirements and hours before visiting the website as they may vary throughout the state.  Some testing sites require advance appointments.  Some require proof of residency either within the state of a specific county or municipality. 

New Federal Testing Site Coming to New Jersey

To increase availability of COVID-19 testing in the state, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will establish a surge testing site in New Jersey. The site will be part of the CDC's Increasing Community Access to Testing (ICATT) for COVID-19 Surge Response effort, which partners with pharmacies and commercial laboratories to provide free testing resources to underserved communities. The NJ Department of Health is working with CDC officials to determine a location for the surge testing site, when a location is selected and a timeline for opening is established it will be announced to the public.

"With the recent increase in COVID-19 cases, it is imperative that we remain vigilant and provide tools for our residents to stay safe," said Governor Phil Murphy. "This testing site will be an invaluable means to continue mitigating the spread of the pandemic. I thank our federal partners for their continued support and commitment to keeping New Jerseyans healthy."

"We appreciate the federal government's support to make this resource available to New Jersey residents," said Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli. "Testing is an important tool to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our state."

As always, we encourage all residents to stay safe and follow all COVID-19 protocols.