LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — With cases climbing across our state and around the country, everyone is on the hunt for that one test.
Whether you want it free or fast, the options are here across central Arkansas.
Lindsey Butler, Walgreens Healthcare Supervisor, said the demand has far exceeded their expectations.
"We have gotten a grant through HHS to provide the tests for free to the community. We just know there's a need out there, and so that's what we're doing," she said.
Only one Walgreens location in Arkansas is offering testing. The recently closed Walgreens store at 12th and Fair Park in Little Rock started free COVID-19 testing on June 19.
According to Butler, appointments are taken from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day, you must have a valid ID and be 18 years or older for the self-administered swab test.
"We take it into our lab, which is just inside our store, where we process the tests on site. Which allows us to get results to patients within 24 hours," she said.
You can make an appointment to get your test done at Walgreens here.
The Main Campus of UAMS is still providing free testing, as well. No appointment is needed, you must have symptoms or have been in contact with someone and the average wait time for results is five days.
All of the local Arkansas Health Department clinics are still offering free tests, too. No appointment is needed, symptoms are not required, and the average wait time for results is three to five days. You can find the nearest local health clinic to you here.
Jefferson Comprehensive Care has five locations across the state with free testing. An appointment is needed, symptoms are not required, and the average wait time for results is up to eight days. Find your nearest clinic here.
If the cost isn't your main concern, but something fast is, then Kavanaugh Pharmacy in Little Rock is the spot for you.
Owner Anne Pace said her pharmacy started performing rapid COVID-19 antigen tests on Thursday, July 9.
"We're hoping to help ease that burden a little bit for the clinics and the hospitals where people aren't getting their results for seven days after taking the test," she said.
According to Pace, the antigen test gives people results in under 30 minutes.
"The first couple of days, we were seeing a lot of people who just hadn't gotten their results back yet and basically had put their life on hold, not knowing if they were positive or negative," she said.
In just one week, Pace said the pharmacy had already administered 600 tests.
Appointments run every five minutes between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. and symptoms are not required.
Pace said the test at Kavanaugh Pharmacy is $95, but some people with insurance qualify for a waiver.
"Hopefully, we can help decrease the spread of this virus," she said.
You can make an appointment for this rapid COVID-19 antigen test here.
Reminder: There are events that pop up throughout the week and on weekends, offering more free testing.