Preparing Your Child for a COVID-19 Test
The child life specialists at Children's Mercy help children cope with the feelings they may have about their illness, injury, disability, or hospitalization. They have created the guide below to help your child understand how a COVID-19 nasal swab test works.
What happens when you come for a COVID-19 test?
- You will be going to Children's Mercy for something called a COVID-19 nasal swab or test. This will help the doctors and nurses know if your body has a certain type of germ.
- The nurses doing the test will wear special outfits and ask your family questions.
- After talking with your family, the nurses will put a thin cotton swab (also called a nasal swab) inside your nose and move it around for 10 seconds. Most kids say it feels uncomfortable, but it is over very fast.
- After the nurses remove the nasal swab from your nose, it is put in a tube. Now your test is done, and you and your family can leave. Thank you for getting tested with us!
Questions on how to prepare your child for a test?
If you have questions on how to prepare your child for a COVID-19 nasal swab test, please call the Child Life Education Line at (816) 983-6870 or message “child life messages” on the MyChildrensMercy patient portal.
Published June 27, 2021
Information About Coronavirus
- Information About COVID-19 from Children's Mercy
- Información sobre el COVID-19 en español
- Information for Families
- Video Resources for Families
- Talking To Your Child About COVID-19
- COVID-19 Testing
- Preparing Your Child for a COVID-19 Test
- Protecting Children with Special Needs or Chronic Conditions
- Information for Patients
- Coronavirus Visitor Restrictions
- Restricción de Visitas en español
- Resources in the Community
- Information for Physicians & Providers
- Ways to Give During the COVID-19 Pandemic