Missouri runs out of free home COVID tests as Kansas Citians struggle to find tests
Update: Late on Thursday, Missouri health officials announced free home testing kits were available for order again through the state health department. That story is posted here.
COVID-19 tests are in short supply in the Kansas City metro area. On Thursday, the state of Missouri ran out of free home testing kits that it was shipping to residents who requested them. If you ordered one already, you should still get it, but it’s no longer possible to request one.
People visiting testing sites around the city are reporting wait times as long as multiple hours, while home self-testing kits are difficult to find, with most local pharmacies sold out.
Here’s what we know about the limited availability of tests, and what you can do to get tested.
Home tests
The state of Missouri has run out of home COVID-19 tests, which were previously being mailed to residents for free. Fulgent Genetics’ ordering site says the monthly order limit for this program has been reached and new orders may be placed at the start of the next calendar month.
We reached out to Missouri’s Department of Health and Senior Services to learn more about the supply, but have not heard back as of Thursday afternoon.
When they do come back, here’s how you can get your free at-home PCR test shipped to you from the state of Missouri.
At-home COVID-19 tests are also in high demand, making them hard to find in stores and pharmacies. They’re getting them in randomly, so be sure to call your closest Walgreens, CVS, Hy-Vee or other store for more information on availability.
Testing sites
Walk-in and drive-through testing locations are still open around the city, but many are experiencing overwhelming demand. That means you may have to wait in line for a long time before you can get tested. Walk-in testing is generally available at the following locations:
Heavy Construction Laborers parking lot, 7820 Prospect. in Kansas City, Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The location is open on Wednesday, Dec. 29 from 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., but closed Friday, Dec. 31.
Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center, located at 825 Euclid Ave. in Kansas City, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. but closed from noon until 1 p.m.
Teamsters parking lot, 4501 Emmanuel Cleaver II Blvd. in Kansas City, Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The location is closed on New Year’s Day.
Unified Government Public Health Dept. 7836 State Ave, Kansas City, Kansas, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This location will be closed for the holidays on December 30 and 31.
Cross-Lines Community Outreach, 736 Shawnee Ave, Kansas City, Kansas, Every Monday in January, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Local health departments in Kansas City, Wyandotte County, Johnson County and Jackson County are updating their sites with available clinics and sites.
Free testing appointments
Another option that may help you beat the line is to make an appointment for testing. The following locations claim to have appointments available today as of midday Thursday, Dec. 30:
Metropolitan Community College Penn Valley, located at 3201 SW Trafficway. Register online here. The Star was not able to contact this location to confirm test availability. We’ll update this story with any new information we find.
Kansas City Area Transportation Authority, two locations:
East Village Transit Center, 700 E 12th St. Register online here.
7501 Prospect Ave. location. Register online here.
Rapid Test KC, a clinic in Overland Park, also lists available appointments starting on Tuesday, Jan. 4th. Register online here.
Johnson County’s testing location at 11875 S. Sunset Drive has appointments available starting next Friday, Jan. 7. Register online here.
University Health has testing appointments available at two locations: 2211 Charlotte St. and 7900 Lee’s Summit Rd. The clinics are closed on Dec. 31 but will open at both locations on New Year’s Day from 8 a.m. until noon. Call 816-404-2273 to make an appointment. If you get a “call could not be connected” message, the phone queue might be full. Simply try again in a few minutes.
What have you experienced?
Have you been trying to get a COVID-19 test? Where did you find one, and how long did you have to wait? We need your help to gauge the magnitude of this testing shortage in the area. Tell us about your experience by emailing the Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com or filling out the form below.
This story was originally published December 30, 2021 at 1:05 PM.
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