Minnesota COVID-19 PCR Saliva Testing Site Now Open at MSP

MINNEAPOLIS-ST PAUL - In partnership with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and Vault Medical Services, the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) has opened the state’s ninth COVID-19 PCR saliva testing location at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP). The testing site expands testing capacity for Minnesota residents and will be available to Minnesota residents at no cost and for a fee to out-of-state residents.

“COVID-19 testing is integral to the health and safety of Minnesotans, and the airport is centrally located and convenient for people living in or visiting the Twin Cities,” said MAC Chair Rick King. “The testing site also adds another element to MSP’s Travel Confidently program, which includes health-safety measures such as a mask requirement, social distancing, hand sanitizing and Plexiglass shields where travelers interact with airport staff.”

“Increasingly, the aviation industry is looking at testing as a way to ease concerns about travel between states and nations,” said MAC CEO Brian Ryks. “We’re already seeing timely negative results from COVID-19 tests reduce quarantine requirements in some places, and we hope that trend will continue as time goes on and reliable testing becomes more readily available.”

Operated by Vault Medical Services, the testing site will use saliva testing, which requires minimal interaction with on-site staff and less equipment than COVID testing sites where nasal swabs are used. The saliva collection process takes about 15 minutes. The tests will be processed at a lab in Minnesota. Test results will be sent by email in 24 to 48 hours. No appointment is necessary, but reservations are encouraged. No one should eat, drink, chew or smoke anything for at least 30 minutes prior to providing a saliva sample.

While Minnesotans don’t pay a fee for testing, those with insurance need to provide that information for reimbursement processes. The fee for the COVID-19 test for non-Minnesota residents is $94.

The airport COVID-19 testing site is located near the former Terminal 1 rental car counters adjacent to Level 2 of the Blue Ramp.

The site will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week and includes parking. Drive to the Terminal 1 entry plaza for parking ramps. Take a ticket to enter. Parking is available on Level 4 of the Blue Ramp. Use the ramp elevator and go to Level 2. Site staff will provide a 2-hour parking voucher which should be used in combination with the ticket to exit the ramp.

The airport testing site is also accessible by Metro Transit bus and light rail service. Face masks and social distancing are required at MSP, including in the COVID-19 testing area. Visit the Minnesota Department of Health for more questions about the saliva testing process, reservations and alternate COVID-19 testing locations.

The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) owns and operates one of the nation’s largest airport systems, including Minneapolis-St Paul International (MSP) and six general aviation airports. The MAC’s airports connect the region to the world and showcase Minnesota’s extraordinary culture to millions of passengers from around the globe who arrive or depart through MAC airports each year. Though a public corporation of the state of Minnesota, the organization is not funded by income or property taxes. Instead, the MAC’s operations are funded by rents and fees generated by users of its airports. For more information, visit www.metroairports.org