COVID-19 Testing in PEI

If you experience any symptoms of COVID-19, get tested at a testing clinic and self-isolate until the results come back.

Where to get tested?

Drop-in Clinics

• Borden-Carleton, 20 Dickie Road:  
  • CLOSED as of May 16 *additional hours added to schedule at Slemon Park location*  
• Summerside, Slemon Park:  
  • Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  • Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. 
  • Monday, May 23 - CLOSED (Victoria Day)
• Charlottetown, 64 Park Street:  
  • Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  • Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
  • Monday, May 23 - CLOSED (Victoria Day)

• Montague, 14 Rosedale Road:   
  • Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. 
  • Monday, May 23 - CLOSED (Victoria Day)
• O’Leary, 14 MacKinnon Drive (O'Leary Health Centre):
  • Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 8 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  • Monday, May 23 - CLOSED (Victoria Day)

Call 1-855-354-4358 to inquire about COVID testing.

Following testing at a clinic - online results will be available

• Check online for tests results at My test result. Most results will be available online within 4 - 12 hours from time of testing. It can take up to 24-48 hours for some results to be available.
• If your online test result shows you are positive, view information for people who have tested positive for COVID-19.
  • Public Health will be prioritizing who receives phone calls after a positive COVID-19 test. Not everyone will receive a call. If you are over age 50 or under age 5, you will be contacted; due to high case volumes, it may take 24 to 48 hours before you receive a call.

For information about the tests used at the PEI testing clinics for diagnosis of COVID-19, read the COVID Testing FAQs.

When you should be tested

• If you develop COVID-19 symptoms, including new or worsening cough, fever/chills, sore throat, runny nose, sneezing, congestion, shortness of breath, headache, muscle aches, unusual fatigue, or loss of sense of smell or taste, go to a drop-in clinic (listed above) and isolate until you receive results – at a testing clinic
• If you are a close contact of a positive case and you develop symptoms, immediately isolate, you are considered positive for COVID-19, you should get tested if you are at higher risk for severe outcomes - at a testing clinic
  • If you are NOT at higher risk of severe outcomes, you can seek confirmatory testing at a testing clinic if you wish.
  • View the guidance for close contacts.
• If you are a close contact and work, live, or access services in a vulnerable setting with no symptoms, you should be tested on day 4 – at a testing clinic.
  • View the guidance for close contacts.
• If you tested positive with a rapid antigen test, immediately isolate and you should get your result confirmed – at a testing clinic
  • If you don’t confirm your result at a testing clinic, you are required to isolate as a positive case (7 days if fully vaccinated or under age 5; 10 days if not fully vaccinated) and follow the steps outlined for positive cases, including notification of close contacts.
• Taxi drivers and ride-share drivers who transport passengers to a COVID-19 testing site or hospital - should be tested for COVID-19 weekly at a testing clinic. If symptoms develop, they should get tested immediately.

When to seek help

Most cases of COVID-19 are mild, and symptoms can be safely treated at home. However, if your COVID-19 symptoms are worsening, your first point of contact should be your primary care provider (family doctor or nurse practitioner). At their discretion, they will either arrange a telephone appointment or see you in person.

If you are immunosuppressed or over the age of 50, consider calling your primary care provider or 811 within the first 5 days of your COVID-19 symptoms to see if you may benefit from an antiviral medicine.

If you do not have a family doctor or nurse practitioner, call the 811 telehealth service for advice or visit a walk-in clinic.  
Inform your initial contact, whether via telephone or in person, that you are in self isolation.

If you have immediate health information, call 811 to speak to an experienced registered nurse for advice on the best course of action.

Anyone with emergency medical needs should call 911 or seek emergency services when:

• experiencing discomfort or tightness in the chest;
• experiencing unusual shortness of breath;                                                          
• experiencing abdominal pain;
• experiencing prolonged and persistent headache or dizziness;
• an injury may require stitches or involve a broken bone;
• a child has prolonged diarrhea or vomiting; or
• a baby under six months of age has a fever of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher.

Testing for People Travelling Off-Island

Rapid antigen testing is available daily at Charlottetown Airport, daily, from 2pm to 6 pm.

YYG Charlottetown Airport (YYG) has partnered with Canadian Health Labs (CHL) to provide COVID-19 testing in the arrivals area of the Charlottetown Airport terminal.

This is a paid service, available to all ages, offered to assist travellers in meeting the requirements of their destination country.

Test results and travel document will be available within 30 minutes of test completion.

The test offered is a rapid antigen test which is acceptable for travel to the USA and many other countries. Some jurisdictions may require a PCR test, which is not offered at the airport.

Molecular testing (including PCR and NAAT) is not available through the province of PEI for people travelling off Island.

Individuals who require molecular tests for travel are advised to seek private options, some of which can be ordered and supervised remotely. Some international airports may also offer testing on-site on a fee for service basis.

Requirements vary between countries and are subject to change. It is the traveller’s responsibility to be aware of the testing required by their destination.

For a list of FAQ, please visit flyyyg.com/covid-19.

Rapid Antigen Tests for Businesses

Through the Government of Canada, Small and Medium Businesses with less than 200 employees seeking rapid antigen test kits can now register through pharmacy partners on Prince Edward Island.  You will be able to collect your test supplies through one of the pharmacy partners on PEI. There is a minimal handling fee paid to the pharmacy of $14 per box of tests (25 tests per box).  Once your application is processed, someone from the partner pharmacy will be in contact to arrange pick up. Please visit the website to complete registration.  

For businesses with more than 200 employees, you must apply directly to the Federal Workplace Program where you will be provided with supplies directly from the Government of Canada.

Rapid test kits for community organizations

Non-profits and charities across the Island may qualify for a Health Canada-funded program administered by the Canadian Red Cross to help them implement a screening program for their personnel and clients, and also receive free rapid antigen test kits. The program is called “Stop the Spread and Stay Safe!" To qualify, organizations should have personnel (volunteers and/or staff) who work in close proximity to each other or have direct contact with community members. Eligible organizations are encouraged to apply online at redcross.ca/StopTheSpread. If unable to apply online, call 1-888-381-8246 between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Atlantic time Monday to Friday for assistance. Please be patient, as there is high demand across Canada and it will take some time to set up your screening program and have the necessary test kits sent to you.

Rapid Antigen Tests (self-test kits)

PEI is distributing a limited supply of rapid antigen screening tests in a targeted manner. For more information, visit COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Tests (self-test kits).

Anyone who tests positive using any self-test kit must immediately self-isolate and should visit a provincial testing clinic to have the results confirmed with a molecular test. If you don’t confirm your result at a testing clinic, you are required to isolate as a positive case (7 days if fully vaccinated or under age 5; 10 days if not fully vaccinated) and follow the steps outlined for positive cases, including notification of close contacts.