Screening & Testing

Call Us First

If you have a fever, cough or other symptoms, please call before arriving in person.

Your doctor's office will ask you a few questions and then give you appropriate instructions, which may include coming to their office for care or reporting to another site to receive COVID-19, influenza and strep tests. In most cases, patients may be asked to wait in their cars while a medical provider administers and processes the tests. 

Patient & Visitor Screenings

All patients, visitors, staff and providers entering any Beaufort Memorial facility must wear a mask or face covering. Please bring a mask from home if you have one, otherwise one will be provided.

Each patient admitted into the hospital is tested for COVID-19 to assist with treatment, appropriate staff PPE protocols and room assignments.

Patients having elective surgery in the hospital or surgery center will have a COVID-19 test scheduled at one of our Express Care clinics. Confirmation of COVID-19 status is important before surgery because those testing positive may have an increased risk of complications, infection and transmission, even if they have no symptoms. Get answers to commonly asked questions about COVID-19 testing prior to an elective surgery.

Care and Screening from Home

Patients who are sick and concerned about COVID-19 can initiate a video visit with a provider using BMH Care Anywhere.

BMH Care Anywhere’s doctors use risk assessments based on guidelines from the CDC and the World Health Organization. They can assess symptoms and will also ask about recent travel or contact with people who’ve been traveling or who may have the infection. While a diagnosis of the COVID-19 virus can’t be confirmed virtually, they can evaluate your risk for the condition, answer questions and recommend next steps. They can also help coordinate referrals for in-person care if necessary.

If your telehealth provider suspects you are at medium or high risk for the COVID-19 virus, he or she will outline immediate testing steps and refer you for in-person care. If you are at low or no risk, the provider will work with you on home care or other treatments.

COVID-19 Testing

All three Express Care clinics offer COVID-19 testing for individuals who:

• Are currently experiencing COVID symptoms,
• Have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, or
• Have been pre-authorized for testing prior to surgery at Beaufort Memorial. 

Please Note: COVID testing at Express Care is NOT available without a physician order.  

DHEC offers free community testing that does not require a physician order. Find a convenient testing location.

Once tested, you may be sent home with self-quarantine instructions (Spanish version). You will be contacted with your test results by phone or text message.

COVID-19 Testing FAQs

Where can I get a Covid Test?

Free community testing locations can be found through the SC DHEC website.

If you have symptoms, call your primary care provider’s office or one of our Express Care Clinics for further instruction. You can also have a video visit using BMH Care Anywhere. If you have trouble breathing, worsening shortness of breath, persistent chest pain or pressure, unexplained confusion, an inability to fully wake, or a blue tint to your face or lips, call 911 to seek emergency medical care.

Where can I get the rapid test and how soon can we get the results?

We use a variety of testing methods for COVID-19. Which test is used on an individual depends on several factors including the reason for testing and current demand (Beaufort Memorial does not offer on-demand rapid tests). Time to receive results vary. Typically it is two to three days but in some cases it may be up to a week.

My co-worker, family member etc. tested positive yesterday, should I come in and get tested?

You should immediately take precautions as if you have COVID-19 and contact your primary care provider if you start to have symptoms. The average duration of incubation is from five to seven days but can be as long as 14 days. If you have COVID-19 but get tested too soon, your test result could come back negative, even though you have been infected.

SC DHEC recommends that if you have been in close contact (at least 15 minutes within 6 feet without masks) with someone who is contagious with COVID-19, you should quarantine at home. The quarantine period is seven to ten days after last contact with the person, but may vary if you live in the same household as that person or if you are tested. You should be tested immediately after finding out you were a close contact to someone with COVID-19 and you may also be tested again five to seven days after last contact with the person who has COVID-19 (this is usually about five to seven days into the quarantine period). If you do not get tested you must remain in quarantine for 10 days.

How much does a Covid test cost?

If you don’t need to see a doctor, we recommend that you go to one of DHEC's free community testing locations. 

If you have a physician’s order or have symptoms and need to see a provider, the charge will vary depending on what care/testing is provided during your visit and could range anywhere from $200-500. If you don’t have any health insurance, a portion of that may be covered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for COVID-19 testing.

If you have additional questions about billing, you can speak with one of our patient financial services team members at 843-522-5015.

How do I find out my test results?

Negative results will be sent via text if you provide a cell phone number on your testing forms at the time of collection. Those with positive results receive a phone call with instructions on how to proceed. The time to receive results varies and may take up to a week, depending on current demand for tests. 

If it has been more than seven days since your test was administered, you may contact healthupdates@bmhsc.org for assistance.