COVID-19 Information for Patients

COVID-19 (formally known as 2019-nCoV) is the name for the respiratory syndrome caused by infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV- 2). The lab test to diagnose the virus that causes COVID-19 is called the SARS-CoV-2 RNA (COVID-19), Qualitative, NAAT.

The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 an international public health emergency.

Yes. Sonora Quest is one of the labs processing the complex COVID-19 testing during this public health emergency. Keep in mind that you need to go to your doctor to have your specimen collected (for example, nose or throat swab). You cannot go to a Sonora Quest Patient Service Center for testing.

Sonora Quest Laboratories offers COVID-19 antibody testing. Click here for detailed information.

The price of the test is $65 if billed directly to a healthcare provider’s office, and $99 if billed to insurance or if a patient decides to purchase the test themselves without a doctor’s order or insurance through our My Lab ReQuest™ solution.

Based on the regulations and expected coverage for testing, for our insured patients Sonora Quest will bill the patient’s insurance directly.  For uninsured patients, Sonora Quest will pursue reimbursement from Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) or the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  Sonora Quest is not billing patients for this testing when ordered by a physician. 

Currently, there are no restrictions on who may receive testing through Sonora Quest Laboratories. The CDC recommends calling your doctor if you experience symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath), have been in close contact with a person with COVID-19 or have recently traveled from an area with a widespread outbreak. Speak with your doctor to determine if your symptoms call for COVID-19 or flu testing.

If you suspect you may have COVID-19, contact your doctor immediately. Your doctor will review your symptoms to determine if COVID-19 or flu testing is needed. If COVID-19 testing makes sense for you, your doctor will collect your specimen (for example, nose or throat swab). Your respiratory specimen will be sent to a lab, such as Sonora Quest, for advanced testing. Your doctor will contact you with your results.

Additionally, please see the 'Where to get tested' section on this page.

$77 to $199 depending on the sample submitted.

Based on the regulations and expected coverage for testing, for our insured patients Sonora Quest will bill the patient’s insurance directly.  For uninsured patients, Sonora Quest will pursue reimbursement from Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) or the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Sonora Quest is not billing patients for this testing when ordered by a physician.

Based on the regulations and expected coverage for testing, Sonora Quest is not billing patients for this testing when ordered by a physician. It is recommended that patients consult with a physician to determine the medical necessity of obtaining COVID-19 testing.  A physician ordered test would likely be covered if the order meets coverage guidelines, resulting in zero out-of-pocket expense. 

Orders should be submitted to Sonora Quest with all patient demographics and “Uninsured” noted in the payor portion of the order. Sonora Quest will pursue payment through AHCCCS or Department of Health & Human Services and will not be charging the patient.

Based on the regulations and expected coverage for testing, Sonora Quest is not billing patients for this testing when ordered by a physician. A physician ordered COVID-19 test would likely be covered by insurance if the order meets the insurer’s medical coverage guidelines, resulting in zero out-of-pocket expense.  It is recommended that patients consult with their primary physician to determine the medical necessity of obtaining COVID-19 testing. 

To apply for AHCCCS or to obtain additional information, patients can visit https://azahcccs.gov/Members/GetCovered/apply.html or call the Applicant & Member Services 1(855)HEA-PLUS (1-855-432-7587).  Calls are answered Monday through Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

No. You must go to your doctor for testing services, where your doctor will collect your specimen (for example, nose or throat swab). Sonora Quest does not collect COVID-19 specimens at our Patient Service Centers. The respiratory specimens collected by your doctor are then sent to labs like Sonora Quest to process the tests.

Additionally, refer to the 'Where to get tested' section on this page for other collection location options.

As a healthcare company that touches the lives of millions of patients each year, we have rigorous safety procedures in place across our company to protect Sonora Quest employees and others on the front line from coming in contact with a wide range of infectious diseases. In light of COVID-19, we have taken additional measures to bolster preparedness, including creating a special response team along with new materials and training and employee travel restrictions. We have also increased space in our patient waiting rooms where we are able to increase social distancing, we require that staff and patients wear masks inside our patient services centers, and we are encouraging people accompanying patients being served to wait outside of the premises.

No. If you suspect you have COVID-19, contact your doctor. If testing is right for you, your doctor will collect your specimen (for example, nose or throat swab). Those respiratory specimens are then sent to labs like Sonora Quest to process the tests.

Sonora Quest does not reach out to patients by phone with their test results. Results are sent to the ordering physician, most commonly through electronic medical records systems (EMRs). Patients may obtain their results through our SonoraQuest.com Patient Results Portal and sign up to receive email and/or text notifications when new results are available.

All COVID-19 testing performed by Sonora Quest Laboratories has been authorized by the FDA under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for use by authorized laboratories such as Sonora Quest.

Yes – we are reporting all results to the Arizona Department of Health Services, so our results are represented in the numbers they are distributing. The Arizona Department of Health Services is tracking statewide statistics and they can be contacted to provide that information as they are able to share. Additionally, we are sharing the total number of COVID-19 tests that we have performed, along with the average result turnaround time, and positivity rate with all major Arizona media outlets on a daily basis.