Alfred COVID-19 Screening Clinic
The Alfred is one of the many screening clinics established by the Victorian State Government.
Open, 7 days a week from 8am - 6pm, the Alfred COVID-19 Screening Clinic is located at The Alfred, 55 Commercial Road, Melbourne.
The screening clinic is located at the hospital’s helipad car park – next to the hospital’s emergency department.
The clinic is separate from the main hospital building, so look out for the signs when you arrive.
The hospital’s main entrance is the closest drop off point to the screening clinic, including for people with limited mobility.
No appointment is necessary to attend The Alfred COVID-19 Screening Clinic. Note, tests are only available for those who meet the criteria listed below (Should I get tested?) or by Department of Health & Human Services directive, and depending on queues, you may need to wait.
From 20 October 2020, to assist the patient registration process, anyone presenting to The Alfred Screening Clinic for COVID-19 screening will be required to show their current Medicare card (if Medicare eligible).
Pre-surgery screening
The Alfred screening clinic does not perform pre-surgery COVID-19 screening services.
Pre-International travel COVID-19 testing
Like other Public Screening Clinics, The Alfred's clinic does not provide COVID-19 testing for travellers and will not issue a testing certificate. We recommend that international travellers arrange their own COVID-19 test and certificate through their GP, travel doctor or the service provider recommended by their airline.
Clinic cleaning times
Please be aware that strict infection prevention protocols require the screening clinic to be closed at 11.00am and 2.30pm each day for a period of fourty minutes to undergo a deep clean.
If you wish to attend an alternative clinic during these times, please refer to the DHHS testing site map for another suitable testing location.
Should I be tested?
People without symptoms should not be tested except in special circumstances, for example, where requested by the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services as part of outbreak management or enhanced surveillance.
If you have any of the symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19), however mild, you should seek advice and get tested:
The symptoms to watch out for are:
- Fever
- Chills or sweats
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Shortness of breath
- Runny nose
- Loss or changes in sense of smell or taste.
Note: In certain circumstances headache, muscle soreness, stuffy nose, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea may also be considered.
To get further advice, call the 24-hour coronavirus hotline 1800 675 398, your local doctor, or use the Department of Health and Human Services online self-assessment tool.
All people being tested for COVID-19 must home isolate until test results are available. Please attend an emergency department if you are very unwell.
Persons presenting for screening under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult (parent or guardian), or will not be tested.
Children who require a medical assessment in addition to COVID-19 screening should present to a facility that provides paediatric services. This includes the Royal Children’s Hospital, Monash Medical Centre and most General Practice clinics. Please be aware that paediatric medical services are not available at The Alfred.
COVID-19 testing requires swabbing of the throat and nose, which is generally very safe. Please be aware that in some situations, throat swabbing in children may be dangerous and should not be performed. This includes, but is not limited to, children who have a very high fever, a barking cough and/or are drooling. If staff at The Alfred COVID-19 Screening Clinic believe that performing throat swabbing is potentially dangerous, they will advise the child’s guardian, the child will then be referred to a health service providing paediatric care.
If you are directed to attend the clinic for screening, the following video explains what to do.
When will I get my results? How will I receive them?
- Results will be available after three to five days
- Patients who test positive will be contacted directly, and provided with further information on the next steps they will need to take
- Patients who test negative will receive a text message on their mobile phone
- If you do not have a mobile phone, you will be contacted directly, and provided your test result.
COVID-19 Positive Care Pathways program
This program aims to give all patients with coronavirus (COVID-19) access to high quality care and support at the right time and in the right setting.
The fact sheet below about the COVID-19 Positive Care Pathways program is for people and their families who tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19). It provides information about this new service, including eligibility and referral pathways.
COVID-19 Positive Care Pathways program - Factsheet for clients
Star Health - Prahran Town Hall Screening Clinic
Star Health in conjunction with the Commonwealth Department of Health and with the assistance of the City of Stonnington and Victorian Department of Health and Human Services, are now operating a COVID-19 screening clinic at the Prahran Town Hall.
To attend the clinic for free screening, you must register first by calling 9525 1300. No Medicare details are required. You can check the latest screening eligibility criteria using the Department of Health and Human Services self assessment tool.
The Prahran Town Hall is located at 255A Chapel St and the Clinic is currently operating 7 days a week 9:00am - 5:00pm.
Sandringham Ambulatory Care Centre Screening Clinic
A walk up COVID-19 screening clinic operated by Sandringham Ambulatory Care Centre provides those in the local community with symptoms an opportunity to get tested.
The clinic is located at the rear of the Sandringham Hospital main car park at 193 Bluff Road, Sandringham. The clinic operates between 8.30am-5.30pm, seven days per week. Please note the service is closed for cleaning at 11.00pm and 2.00pm for thirty minutes each day.
Entry is via a footpath external to the hospital building. A map of the location can be found here.
Other screening clinics
Assessment centres have been established at a number of Victorian hospitals. You don't need to call ahead (unless stated otherwise below) if you attend one of the following clinics:
Metropolitan health services:
- Austin Hospital
- Box Hill Hospital - Eastern Health
- Casey Hospital - Monash Health
- Dandenong Hospital - Monash Health
- Frankston Hospital - Peninsula Health
- Monash Medical Centre, Clayton - Monash Health
- Northern Hospital
- Royal Children's Hospital
- Royal Melbourne Hospital - Melbourne Health
- St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne
- Sunshine Hospital - Western Health
Regional health services:
- Ballarat Base Hospital - Ballarat Health Services
- Barwon Health North, Geelong - Barwon Health (please call (03) 4215 4445 prior to attending)
- Bacchus Marsh - Djerriwarrh Health Services
- Benalla Health
- Bendigo Hospital
- Echuca Hospital - Echuca Regional Health
- Maryborough District Health Service
- Melton - Djerriwarrh Health Services
- Mildura - Sunraysia Community Health Services (pre-call 5021 7653)
- Phillip Island Health Hub - Bass Coast Health
- Shepparton Hospital - Goulburn Valley Health
- Swan Hill District Health
- Wangaratta Hospital - Northeast Health
- Warrnambool - South West Healthcare (pre-call 5563 1666)
- Western District Health Service - Hamilton
- Wimmera Health Care Group – Horsham
- Wodonga Campus - Albury Wodonga Health
- Wonthaggi Hospital - Bass Coast Health