COVID-19 Testing Information
St. Mary’s COVID-19 Testing Clinic
50 Bathurst Drive, Unit 1, Waterloo
Map it (opens Google Maps)
519-885-9517 (for assistance or if you cannot book online)
226-989-4966 (for cancellations only)
Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. – 7 days per week, including holidays.
A listing of all assessment centres in Waterloo Region can be found here.
COVID-19 testing is by appointment only at all assessment centres. The St. Mary’s Testing Clinic is offering online booking for same day appointments. Pre-registration begins each morning at 7 a.m. If you are coming with other people to be tested, everyone who requires a test must fill out a separate pre-registration form. You will be be asked a number of questions, including for your Health Card number, if you have one.
We are currently experiencing a high volume of demand for COVID-19 testing. Please:
- First determine if you require a COVID-19 test. Click here to complete a self-assessment.
- Do not seek testing at multiple COVID-19 assessment centres as this will result in delayed access and delayed test results for all. If you have already booked an appointment at an assessment centre, and can no longer make it, please cancel and rebook your time so others who need a test can be seen.
If you meet criteria for testing at an assessment centre click here to pre-register. The link includes information on current priority groups for testing, a list of COVID-19 symptoms and available time slots for the next day. There are 192 appointments available each day for online booking beginning at 7 a.m. and they can fill quickly.
If you need help booking, or are unable to book online, call 519-885-9517. To cancel your appointment call 226-989-4966.
The new Grand River Testing site will open on December 8 at 15 Charles Street W Kitchener, (Ontario and Charles Streets – the old bus terminal). Hours of operation are the same: 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m, Mon-Sun. Website for registration: https://covidtestregistration.grhosp.on.ca/
Who should be tested at a COVID-19 assessment centre?
Based on the Ontario government’s current COVID-19 testing guidelines, we are assessing individuals based on the following:
1. Individuals with symptoms of COVID-19.*
2. Direct contacts of confirmed COVID-19** cases identified as:
- A household contact (note this does not include contacts of contacts such as a friend of someone in your household)
- Directed or recommended by public health via contract tracing or outbreak investigation.
- Notified via the COVID Alert app.
In addition the following groups are eligible for testing at assessment centres regardless of the the presence of symptoms. Currently these are:
- Workers in long-term care homes every two weeks. Workers in long-term care homes should not be tested more frequently than every two weeks unless directed by public health in an outbreak setting
- Essential caregivers visiting a long-term care home
- Residents or workers in homeless shelters or other congregate settings. A list of congregate settings is outlined in guidance from the Ministry of Health.
- Pre-operative patients prior to receiving general anesthesia and cancer patients receiving therapy as outlined in guidance from the Ministry of Health.
- International students who have passed their 14-day quarantine period, or who have developed symptoms within their 14-day period (breaking quarantine to get a test is not encouraged, but assessment centres will not turn symptomatic individuals away).
- Farm workers
- Indigenous communities
Groups of people who are eligible for testing at assessment centres, regardless of their symptoms, may change from time to time. You should confirm your eligibility for a COVID-19 test with your healthcare provider before seeing testing.
Children are eligible for testing if they :
- Are recommended for testing by the local public health unit
- Are exhibiting new/worsening symptoms of:
- Fever and/or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Decrease or loss of smell or taste
- Exhibiting 2 or more of the following new/worsening symptoms:
- Sore throat
- Runny/Stuff nose
- Headache
- Nausea/Vomiting/Diarrhea
- Fatigue, lethargy, muscle aches or malaise
- You must screen for COVID-19 every day before going to school/child care. Use the school screening tool to help make this decision.
**If an asymptomatic close contact tests negative, they must remain in self-isolation for 14 days from their last exposure to the case. If they later become symptomatic within the isolation period, they should be re-tested.
The only exception is if the individual was alerted to a possible exposure by a COVID Alert app. Then they must isolate until they receive their test results. If the results are negative, they are required to self-monitor for 14 days from when they received the alert. If they later become symptomatic within the isolation period, they should be re-tested and self-isolate until they receive their results.
Examples of who would not be eligible for testing
Please note, the following are examples of individuals who do not meet testing eligibility criteria:
- Asymptomatic individuals seeking workplace testing outside of outbreak investigations or government requirements
- Other members of the family that do not fit the current COVID-19 testing guidance (those without eligible symptoms compatible with COVID-19, unless the individual is confirmed as COVID-19 infected
- Asymptomatic contacts of case contacts (close contacts of an individual who is a contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19, unless the individual is confirmed as COVID-19 infected
- Asymptomatic sports team member testing unless referred by public health
When visiting a COVID-19 assessment centre
When visiting a COVID-19 assessment centre, please follow public health measures, including wearing a face covering, and maintain physical distance from people outside your household or social circle.
Who can be tested at a Pharmacy?
Please click here to find select pharmacies that are testing people without symptoms, as well as other centers in Ontario providing testing for priority groups. Do not go to a pharmacy if you have any symptoms of COVID-19..
If you need immediate medical attention.
If you are in need of immediate medical attention, please call 911 or visit the hospital emergency department and advise them of your symptoms and travel history, if applicable. If you have other health concerns, please contact your family doctor.
How do I find out my results?
The time to get your test results varies depending on number of test completed each day. Typically, results take 5 to 7 days. Public Health and the St. Mary’s General Hospital Testing Clinic will call you if your result is positive or if you register without a health card.
To check your Covid-19 results:
- Click here and use your health card number.
- If you registered for testing with a health card and your results are not available after 5-7 days, please call your family doctor for results.
Non-OHIP Patients: Please call 519-749-6436 for your results. This line is monitored Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
All Patients: To receive an official record of your COVID-19 test results:
Please send an email to releaseofinfo@smgh.ca including the following information:
- Full legal name
- Date of birth
- Date of the COVID test
- And the following statement “I am aware of receiving personal health information via email is not secure and I accept the risk. I consent to receiving my records by email.”
Please note that:
- SMGH Release of Information is not able expedite test results for any reasons including travel, medical procedures, visitations, requirements at long term or retirement homes.
- SMGH can only release result for testing centre at 50 Bathurst Dr. Unit 1, Waterloo or done at SMGH Emergency Department or Inpatient units.
- Due to volumes of requests, Release of Information will not accept requests over the phone.
- SMGH Release of Information will attempt to send your Record of Results within 1-2 business days, but cannot guarantee a specific time frame.
Once the results are available, Release of Information will email the report to you in an attached password protection pdf file along with a follow-up email with the password.
Transportation Options
Patients who have exhausted all other transportation options to get to their COVID testing appointment, or to an isolation unit, can call the Waterloo Region transport booking line: 1-855-786-2674.
They will again be asked to verify that they’ve exhausted all their resources in obtaining transportation. The patient is then connected to a live booking agent who advises the patient of the available times for transport for the day. The service will run from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on weekdays in Waterloo Region. We will review the service regularly, and adjust times and days based on demand.