Residents in Need of Testing are Urged to Call (813) 272-5900 to Pre-register Today
Hillsborough County is re-opening the COVID-19 community collection testing site at Raymond James Stadium, located at 4201 N. Dale Mabry Highway, from Wednesday, April 1 through Friday, April 3.
The drive-thru testing will ONLY be administered to symptomatic individuals who have pre-registered and have been scheduled an appointment through Hillsborough County’s call center at (813) 272-5900. The call center will be taking appointments today through Thursday, April 2 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Appointment seekers are urged to be thoughtful of others. Test kit supplies are low, and demand is very high across the nation. Those who fail to arrive at their designated appointment time will lose their opportunity to be tested without exception. Residents who miss appointments or fail to show up will be required to re-register through the call center, as missed appointments may result in other symptomatic residents being unable to secure a needed appointment.
Pre-Screening and Pre-Registration Are Required:
- Residents may get tested if they have been pre-screened and meet testing guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and the Florida Department of Health.
- Residents also must be pre-registered through the Hillsborough County Customer Service Call Center at (813) 272-5900. The call center will be augmented with health care staff this week, today through Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- People who do not have a designated primary care physician or are uninsured are eligible for pre-screening and pre-registration through the call center.
What to Bring:
- You must arrive in a personal vehicle. Due to the increased risk of contamination as well as current shortages of personal protective equipment, walk-ups are not permitted at this time.
- Each person to be tested must be seated next to a working window.
- Limit vehicle passengers to those needing a test.
- Have a photo ID for all persons being tested with name, date of birth, and photo (can be Florida driver’s license, state-issued ID, or passport).
- Bring a printed copy of the testing confirmation email from the Hillsborough County Customer Service Call Center. Having this form with you will expedite the process.
- Residents who are unable to print their confirmation number can provide a screenshot on their phone.
- You will be required to provide the following information:
- Full name
- Current address (where you are staying)
- Best phone number to reach you in order to receive test results
What to Expect:
- You will be greeted by a health care provider in personal protective gear who will give you instructions.
- You will be given a tissue to blow your nose. You will need to keep the tissue to dispose of on your own.
- A soft swab will be inserted deep into your nose to get the necessary sample. This may be slightly uncomfortable, but the test is quick and should take less than a minute.
- Test results are not immediate. It may take several days. After the test, you will be given information on what to do while you await the results.
- You will receive test results via the telephone number you gave at the time of pre-screening.
The testing site is in the parking lot south of the stadium, bordered by Tom McEwen Boulevard on the north, Dale Mabry Highway to the west, and Himes Avenue to the east. Vehicles should enter from Dale Mabry Highway or Himes Avenue. Signage will mark the entry. Vehicle passengers MUST only include those needing a test. Hours of operation for the three-day period will be from 8 to 11 a.m.
The site will be staffed by health care professionals in medical protective gear who are trained to test for COVID-19 coronavirus. Directional signage and law enforcement will help residents through the testing site in an orderly fashion.
People who are experiencing a medical emergency should dial 9-1-1 immediately.
The testing site has been a collaboration among Hillsborough County, the City of Tampa, the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County, and four major medical groups in the region – BayCare, Tampa General Hospital, AdventHealth, and HCA Healthcare – West Florida Division.