Testing determines if an individual currently has COVID-19 and it does not reflect past illness for COVID-19. Access to all testing and assessment centres are by appointment only. If you think you have COVID-19 please self-isolate, avoid contact with others and proceed with a testing option. If unsure if you have COVID-19 symptoms take the COVID-19 Self-Assessment.
Where and When to Get Tested
Anyone who needs a test under the provincial testing guidelines can get one at no cost. Depending on your situation, you may be able to get a COVID-19 test at:
- COVID-19 Public Assessment Centres
- Participating pharmacies
- Participating community labs (inclusive of travel-related testing needs)
Some locations may have certain restrictions (for example, some are unable to test young children).
Public Assessment Centres
You can get a COVID-19 test at a public assessment centre by appointment if any of the following apply to you:
- Individuals currently experiencing at least one symptom of COVID-19.
- Individuals who have had ongoing, close contact with a confirmed positive case while they have been infectious or have had similar acquisition exposure to the case (i.e. through work or social settings).
- Individuals who are a contact of an outbreak investigation.
- Individuals who are part of high-risk populations such as staff and residents at Long-Term Care facilities.
- Individuals who received a COVID Alert app exposure notification.
- Individuals visiting a Long-Term Care facility for an indoor visit.
- Individuals who are farm workers.
- Individuals who identify as indigenous.
- Individuals travelling to remote indigenous communities for work purposes.
- Staff in childcare settings.
- Individuals who need a test before a scheduled (non-urgent or emergent) surgery in a region with high community transmission (ask your health-care provider).
- Individuals who fail screening tools.
- Individuals who are part of a targeted testing group as outlined in guidance from the Chief Medical Officer of Health.
Public Assessment Centre Locations
All Public Assessment Centres are accessed by appointment only. Please follow the instructions below to book an appointment at a location you choose.
*NOTE: Hours are subject to change due to holidays.
Sarnia Lambton COVID-19 Assessment Centres
| LOCATION | HOURS |
| Twin Bridges Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic 153 Christina Street South, Sarnia Book your appointment Phone for appointments ONLY if you cannot access the internet. Call: 226-776-9030 French and sign language is available. | Monday to Thursday 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. |
| The Rapids Family Health Team 1150 Pontiac Drive, Sarnia (NOTE: same location as Rapids FHT but testing has a separate entrance) Book your appointment Phone for appointments ONLY if you cannot access the internet. Call: 519-491-5395 *Opens Monday September 13th* | Monday & Tuesday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday & Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. |
Rural Lambton COVID-19 Assessment Centres
| LOCATION | HOURS |
| Plympton-Wyoming Health & Wellness Centre 596 Broadway Street, Wyoming Please book online by going to app.getcorigan.ca Choose from available times and schedule tests when it is convenient for you. If unable to book online, email covidclinic@clfht.com. Spanish and Arabic language is available. | Monday & Wednesday 12:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (closed 4:30pm-5:30pm for supper) Tuesday & Thursday 4:15 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed 12:00pm-1:00pm for lunch) Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Sunday Closed (excluding holidays) |
| Grand Bend Area Community Assessment Centre 69 Main St. E, Grand Bend Call: 519-238-2362 or book a COVID-19 test appointment online | Monday to Friday 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. (excluding holidays) |
Indigenous Health Centre – Assessment Centre for Indigenous Peoples
*Indigenous Health Centres are only offering testing to members of their First Nation Communities.
- Walpole Island Health Centre
- Call 519-627-0765
- Kettle & Stony Point First Nation
- Call 519-786-5647
- Aamjiwnaang First Nation
- Call 519-332-6770 ext. 305
Pharmacy Testing Centres
You can get a COVID-19 test at a participating pharmacy if you do not have symptoms, have not been in close physical contact with someone who currently has COVID-19, are not part of a specific outbreak investigation, and if any of the following apply to you:
- a resident, worker (including support workers), visitor (including caregivers), or government inspector of a long-term care home, retirement home, homeless shelter or other congregate living setting
- staff of, or child attending, child care
- Identify as indigenous
- Travelling to remote indigenous communities for work purposes
- Worker or resident of a specific outbreak site, including a long-term care home, retirement home or school
Participating Pharmacy Testing Centre Locations
NOTE: appointments are required please call ahead to book your appointment.
- 260 Indian Rd, Sarnia – Shoppers Drug Mart – 519-337-3727
- 481 London Rd, Sarnia – Hogan Pharmacy – 519-332-1032
- 1206 Michigan Ave, Sarnia – Shoppers Drug Mart – 519-541-9064
- 2600 Lakeshore Rd, Bright’s Grove – Shoppers Drug Mart – 519-869-4224
Find your closest Ontario testing location to get a COVID-19 test. Search by postal code.
Testing For Travel
There are fees associated with travel testing. Consult with the service provider for more information.
Locations offering COVID-19 tests for international travel:
PCR Testing
- Shoppers Drug Marts
- London Travel Clinic
- LifeLabs (none in Lambton County)
- Sarnia Twin Bridges Nurse Practitioner Clinic (TBNPC)**
- COVID-19 At Home PCR Saliva Testing Kit (Rexall)
Note: Most airlines require PCR testing. Confirm which type of test is required for the airline and country you are travelling to.
Rapid Antigen Testing
- Shoppers Drug Marts
- Sarnia Twin Bridges Nurse Practitioner Clinic
- TGH Safety Consulting & Training Center
Note: Antigen testing is not accepted for entry into Canada, but may be in the country you are travelling to. Understand the testing requirements before booking your travel test.
Proof of a negative test is required pre-departure.
**PCR test results are often posted within 48 hours, but cannot be guaranteed within the 72 hour flight departure timeframe. Rapid COVID-19 antigen testing is also available. In order to qualify for either test you must not have any COVID-19 symptoms, have not been in close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case and not within a facility that is in a COVID-19 outbreak.
Travel Testing Requirements
All travellers 5 years of age or older, regardless of citizenship, must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test to enter Canada. The PCR test must be taken within 72 hours of:
- Land Entry:
- Entering into Canada; with limited exceptions such as commercial truckers.
- Flying:
- Scheduled departure time of your flight to Canada. Airlines will refuse boarding to travellers who are unable to provide a valid molecular test result.
- If you have a connecting flight the test must be conducted within 72 hours of the scheduled departure time of your last direct flight to Canada. You may need to schedule the test in your transit city.
Refer to https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid for more information on travel testing or go to the Lambton Public Health Travel Restrictions and Guidance webpage for general travel information.
Individuals who DO NOT HAVE TO GET TESTED
If the above criteria does not apply to you, and if you are not required to get tested as part of a work mandate, you do not have to get tested. Do not get tested if the following applies to you:
- Low risk individuals who are not experiencing symptoms.
- Low risk individuals who have not had close contact with a confirmed case of been in a setting with known exposure.
- Individuals visiting a Long-Term Care facility for an outdoor visit.
All additional guidance can be found on the Ministry of Health’s updated guidance document.
Test Results
Lambton Public Health will contact you only if you have a positive COVID-19 test result. All individuals can access their test results from the provincial website: covid-19.ontario.ca.
Test results are typically available in 2-10 days and depends on testing volume at the time. Lambton Public Health does not receive test results sooner than what is available on the provincial website. Please only call Lambton Public Health for test results if:
- You or your dependents do not have a health card
- Your test result is taking longer than 10 days
- You are unable to access the website
If you have difficulties accessing the portal for your test result, please call Lambton Public Health at 519-383-8331. If you have received a negative test result, please continue to follow public health safety measures to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Direction will be provided if you have a positive COVID-19 test result.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any symptoms, you need to self-isolate until you have no symptoms for at least 24 hours and have received a negative test result. If you don’t have symptoms and you have not been told to self-isolate, please continue to self-monitor yourself for symptoms until you receive your results.
View more information about what happens after you get tested.
The test can only tell you if you have COVID-19 at the time of the test. The test will not tell you if you had COVID-19 in the past.
You can use the online portal, and enter your information to receive your test result. If your test result is positive, you will be contacted by Lambton Public Health for follow-up.
You should get retested if you develop symptoms. Please contact the assessment centre to schedule another test.