I have just faced a very strange situation in Berlin. This one test center close to my house refused to test my son because he has COVID symptoms.

Can they do that? So, what I understand they only test if you are likely to be negative.

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**Update**

You should go to one of these test centers in this page in case you have symptoms or positive schnelltest: [https://www.berlin.de/corona/en/testing-facilities/#headline_1_1](https://www.berlin.de/corona/en/testing-facilities/#headline_1_1)

They are run by Federal State of Berlin. Other commercial test centers does not offer service in case you show symptoms.

7 comments

  1. With covid-symptoms you should isolate as much as possible and call your physician. Additionally you could buy a self-test and test your kid at home.

  2. >So, what I understand they only test if you are likely to be negative.

    No they offer these tests because not everyone carrying the virus shows (immediately) symptoms.

    But if you have already symptoms you or your son in this case should stay at home.

    [https://www.berlin.de/corona/en/hotline/](https://www.berlin.de/corona/en/hotline/)

  3. If the person has symptoms you need to go through your doctor or 116 117, and isolate at home until the test is carried out. The test centers are to catch unknown infection, asymptomatic or infections before they cause symptoms.

  5. It depends on the test center. Most of them are not testing people with symptoms, because it’s too risky, but as far as I know this mostly applies to the privat ones. The official test centers should be equipped to test in any case.

    Although I have to say, that usually you have to pay for anything else than quick tests there.

    Our child’s pediatrician is doing pcr tests himself, my doctor too, and there they are free of charge if you have symptoms.

    So maybe try to find a practice that does testing. If it’s only for that, I’m pretty sure that it doesn’t even have to be a pediatrician.

  6. If you are referring to pharmacies or the ones that do kostenlosebürgertests these are meant for asymptomatic individuals. They are not allowed to test symptomatic individuals. You are supposed to either call 116117 or your physician to arrange for a test. Nothing is very clear here so a lot of people end up confused. Hope your son is ok.

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