COVID-19 Testing | Fenway Health: Health Care Is A Right, Not A Privilege. COVID-19 Testing – Fenway Health: Health Care Is A Right, Not A Privilege.

COVID-19 Testing

We are very excited to announce that Fenway Health will be starting COVID 19 nasopharyngeal PCR testing. We have partnered with the Boston Public Health Commission and Boston Public Schools to begin using the McKinley School parking lot behind our 1340 Boylston Street location as a COVID-19 testing site. We have set up a tent in the parking lot and are currently piloting drive-through and walk-through tests.

  • During the pilot phase, testing will be available Monday – Friday, 8 am – 12 pm, by appointment to Fenway patients and staff who have been evaluated and referred for testing by a Fenway provider.
  • If you think you need a COVID-19 test, please call the medical appointment line at 617.927.6000 to schedule a telehealth visit to be evaluated by your provider. Fenway is now testing patients who have symptoms, are an asymptomatic close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID, or has an underlying health condition including diabetes, HIV infection, heart disease, or liver disease that puts them at higher risk for severe COVID illness. For a full list of underlying health conditions, visit the CDC web site.
  • If you are not a Fenway patient but would like to become one, please call 617.927.6000.
  • If you are not a Fenway patient and would like to be tested elsewhere, you can find information on Boston-area testing sites on the city’s web site here and outside of Boston on the Department of Public Health web site here.

We plan to expand the number of daily tests we can perform over the next several weeks. Once our staff and systems are ready, we’ll share more information about the availability of testing for the broader neighborhood and other communities we serve.

General COVID-19 Info

We are now accepting donations of cloth masks!

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COVID-19 TESTING FAQs
  • If you and your provider conclude that a COVID-19 PCR test is recommended, then your provider will reach out to our scheduling department.
  • Our scheduling department will call to set up a testing appointment.
  • Please read this important information you need to know before reporting for your test.
  • This is an outdoor site that tests for COVID 19 only with nasopharyngeal PCR testing
  • This is NOT a medical clinic and unfortunately, no medical evaluations can be performed
  • This is not a walk-in clinic and is by appointment only at this time
  • Patients must meet Fenway’s criteria for testing

Once someone is referred for testing, they will be contacted within 1 day to schedule an appointment date/time with directions to the testing site

  • Please ensure that you are in your car or the car of someone who can safely drive you to the appointment. If you are having symptoms, please do not take public transportation or ride apps.
  • Please remember this PCR test is a nasopharyngeal swab and can be uncomfortable
  • Please wear a mask or face covering
  • Please bring tissues with you
  • Please bring a form of government issued identification with you
  • If you have a drive-through appointment please arrive at the testing location using the 42 Kilmarnock Street entrance, please ensure that you are in your car or the car of someone who can safely drive you to the appointment. If you are having symptoms, please do not take public transportation or ride apps.
  • If you have a walk-through appointment or are arriving on bicycle, please report to the walk-through testing entrance located at 83 Peterborough Street entrance. If you are having symptoms, please do not take public transportation or ride apps.
  • On the day of your appointment, report to The McKinley School parking lot. The McKinley School is at the corner of Peterborough and Kilmarnock Streets in the Fenway neighborhood. If traveling by car, the parking lot is accessible from Kilmarnock Street. If arriving by foor or by bicycle, please enter from the Peterborough Street entrance.
  • Once you are tested, your results should be available within 3–5 days and you will be contacted with your results by a member of your health care team
  • You will be provided with a handout for patients and their caregivers when COVID-19 is suspected or confirmed
  • We will take a nasal secretion sample using a nasopharyngeal swab.  This swab is inserted through the nostril up in to the nasal passage.  The swab will need to remain in place for 10 seconds and the tester will need to swivel the swab to get a good sample. 
  • The test can be uncomfortable and may trigger a cough, gag or sneeze response.  
  • You can bring tissues with you to the visit and we will have some on site as well. 
  • Some bleeding may occur after the test; this is normal. 
  • Please advise your tester if you have a history of deviated septum, injury to your nose, or of any other concerns that you may have.

Yes, Please be sure to let us know when we schedule your testing appointment that you will be arriving on foot.

No. To maintain privacy and safety ride shares are not allowed at the testing site.

  • We will call you with results
  • If your testing is negative, this means you likely were not infected with coronavirus
  • This is a new test and there can be small risk of false negative results and thus, if your symptoms persist or worsen please reach out to your primary care team
  • You are still at risk for getting infected with COVID 19 so we advise that you continue to take preventative measures to protect yourself to avoid exposures to coronavirus
  • We will call you with your results
  • A positive test confirms that you have COVID 19 infection and that you were recently infected with Coronavirus
  • Data shows that COVID 19 virus can persist in respiratory tract samples for up to 14 days
  • You should remain on home isolation for
  • 14 days from when your symptoms began AND
  • your fever has been gone for at least 3 days without the use of fever-reducing medications AND
  • your symptoms have gotten better (but may not be completely gone)
  • You should call Fenway Health immediately if you develop a fever >101 °F, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
  • We are using the Quest PCR Test which is a nasopharyngeal swab
  • This is a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT)
  • This type of test is the initial test of choice as recommended by the CDC

A nasal swab test looks for virus particles in an active COVID-19 infection whereas an antibody test looks for antibodies made by your body in response to a COVID-19 exposure or infection.

Fenway Health: Health Care Is A Right, Not A Privilege.
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