Seattle University COVID-19 Testing Program for Students Updates and FAQs

August 14, 2020

Dear Students:

Last week we wrote to you with an update regarding testing requirements for all students expecting to access campus in the fall term. In the days since we’ve received a range of questions and have accordingly prepared this message as an update to the previous one. We appreciate all of the questions and perspectives we receive from our community, and the on-going planning work of faculty, staff, and administration. We are grateful for all those who are working tirelessly to help us evaluate, plan for, and enact the complex steps needed to ensure that we address our number one priority of keeping our students, faculty, and staff as protected and healthy as possible. We are also grateful for your patience as we continue to evolve our testing protocol and consider a multitude of factors to promote everyone's safety and wellbeing while still providing the very best Redhawk experience possible. Below you will find more details associated with our testing requirements and a series of FAQs. It is incumbent upon all of us to prioritize the safety of the Seattle University community as we return to campus in the next several weeks.

Sincerely,

Tara Hicks, ARNP Director,
Student Health Center  

James Willette, Ph.D. Associate Vice President & Dean of Students
Division of Student Development

DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE SEATTLE UNIVERSITY COVID-19 TESTING PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS RETURNING TO CAMPUS

Purpose

For all students who will be on campus fall quarter in any capacity to be tested in a 2-3 week period prior to start of fall quarter. This testing will give us a starting point and knowing all students accessing campus tested negative for COVID-19 in a specific time period prior to the start of fall quarter.

Who needs to be tested

Any undergraduate, graduate, or law student who plans to be physically on the campus

For example: 

  • Living in residence halls
  • Enrolled in classes meeting in person
  • Any plans for meeting up with faculty, staff, or other students in person
  • Accessing services such as the library, Redhawk dining, CPL lab, etc

Timing of Test 

  • For students moving into the residence halls, testing should occur within 10 days prior to their move in date.Students who moved into campus housing early such as athletes and RA’s should be tested in the time frame of 8/15 – 8/31.
  • Off campus students who will be accessing campus should be tested in the time frame of 8/15 – 9/4 and have results prior to fall quarter.
  • With the fall semester starting earlier for the law school, law students should be tested after 8/7/20 and are required to submit test results by 8/31.

Required Test

  • PCR for SARS CoV-2 that has received FDA EUA (emergency use authorization) nasopharyngeal, anterior nasal, saline nasal rinse, saliva, etc.
  • Tests that are NOT acceptable include antigen and antibody (IgM, IgG).

Required Documentation                                                                     

Lab reports will be needed which include:

  • Identification information for student such as name and date of birth 
  • Type of the test administered
  • Results 
  • Name and address of lab

Management of Results                                                                       

ALL students will need to upload the results to patient portal under “immunizations” - For detailed steps see below or https://www.seattleu.edu/student-health/

Students moving onto campus are required to bring a hard copy of the results to show at the time they are checking into their room

  • This is in addition to uploading to the patient portal which should be done prior to move in if possible 
  • To expedite check in please circle or highlight “PCR” on the lab document that will be shown to housing staff

Where to get tested

  • Start with your primary care provider to see if they provide testing.
  • If outside of Seattle, check to see if there are free testing sites or drive through sites to get tested.

https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/community-based-testing-sites/index.html  

It is a home test kit if your student has had any exposure to congregate settings such as healthcare settings, office buildings, workplaces, schools, shelters, etc.

Seattle/King County

As of 7/31/20, individuals testing for screening purposes only were allowed to schedule an appointment.

Walk-up Sites

  1. Rainier Beach Testing Site -
    8815 Seward Park Ave S, Seattle WA 98118 Mon, Weds, Thurs, Fri, Sat, 9:30am-5:30pm

  2. Downtown Public Health Center -
    No appointment necessary
    2124 4th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121 (behind building)
    Phone: (206) 477-8300

Drive-Through Sites

  1. Sodo Testing Site
    3820 6th Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98108 – Mon – Sat, 9:30am-5:30pm
    Register for SODO https://www.solvhealth.com/book-online/0xvwjp

  2. Aurora Testing Site

12040 Aurora Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98113 – Mon – Sat, 9:30am-5:30pm

What you’ll need to get free testing:

  1. A Photo I.D. with your date of birth. Testing is available regardless of your citizenship/immigration status.
  2. You do not need to have insurance. However, if you have an insurance plan, please bring your card and UW Medicine will bill them. You will not be charged for the test. 

Other testing locations in King County:

https://kingcounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19/care/testing/locations.aspx

  • Seattle University SHC will have testing available by appointment only later in August and are still working with an external laboratory to offer more testing options. Information will be available on the SHC website once resource in place.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What if I can’t get the test prior to coming to campus?                     

ou can get tested once you arrive in Seattle, see testing site resources above. If you are moving into campus housing you will need to quarantine until a negative result is received.

I haven’t received my test results yet, can I still move into the residence hall?

Yes, but you will need to quarantine until the test results are received. If results come back negative you can end quarantine, if they come back positive you will be moved to a room for isolation.

I haven’t received my test results, can I self-quarantine off campus with friends or family? 

Yes, but notify housing of your plan and arrange for a new move-in time.

My test is positive, what do I do now?

  • If you are still home you should delay your travel, contact your health care provider for evaluation, and not come to campus until you’ve meet requirements to leave isolation and are no longer contagious.
  • If you do not develop symptoms isolation can usually end 10 days after the positive test.
  • If you do develop symptoms, follow the guidance of your healthcare provider but it should be a minimum of 10 days and at least 24 hours of symptom improvement including no fever without the use of fever reducing medications (Tylenol, ibuprofen,etc).
  • If you have already moved onto campus, you will need to be moved to an isolation room in the Yobi Apartments until the isolation period is over. You will be followed by the Student Health Center monitoring your symptoms daily.

I had a negative test but have now developed symptoms that could be COVID-19, what should I do?

  • If you are still home you should delay your travel, contact your health care provider for evaluation, and not come to campus until you’ve meet requirements to leave isolation and are no longer contagious. Minimum time for isolation if diagnosed with COVID is 10 days and at least 24 hours of symptom improvement including no fever without the use of fever reducing medications (Tylenol, ibuprofen,etc).
  • If you have already moved onto campus, you will need to notify housing staff immediately and be evaluated by the Student Health Center to determine if you need to be moved to an isolation room

I had a negative test but just found out I was in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, what should I do?

  • If you are still home you should delay your travel and quarantine for 14 days after last contact with the person who tested positive. 
  • If you have already moved onto campus, you will need to notify housing staff immediately and you may need to be moved to a quarantine room
  • If you develop symptoms, see above response about someone who has developed symptoms

I’ve already been on campus during summer quarter, why am I now being required to get tested?

The purpose of the testing is to have students tested right before the start of Fall quarter. Although we’ve had students on campus this summer the density has been much lower than it will be during fall quarter and most of the campus has been closed.

My healthcare provider won’t test me because I don’t have symptoms or haven’t had a known close contact exposure to someone diagnosed with COVID-19?

Healthcare systems and facilities have different policies regarding who can be tested for COVID-19 due to their laboratory capacity and PPE supplies. For alternate sites to your healthcare provider, please see “Where to get tested”.

Will my insurance plan cover the test?

Many insurance companies are still covering COVID testing at 100% for any reason but others are beginning to distinguish those with symptoms and identified risk from those being screened and may have a more general exposure risk. I would recommend checking with your insurance company to see what they are currently covering.

Does a rapid test meet the test requirements?

Yes, as long as it is a PCR for SARS CoV-2 and has FDA approval. Some of the rapid tests are antigen tests which would not be accepted at this point. The important part with the rapid tests are to make sure you are able to get a report that has the test information along with results.

Does an antibody test meet the test requirements?

No, antibody testing does not meet the requirement due to lack of information about the significance of positive antibodies. It is unknown how long immunity to SARS CoV-2 lasts or what level the antibodies need to be to confer that immunity.

I have already been sick with COVID-19, do I still need to get the test?

If you tested positive for COVID-19 June 7th or later you do not need to get retested during this time period. This is due to studies showing RNA for SARS-CoV-2 can still be detected in someone’s respiratory specimens for up to 12 weeks although they are no longer contagious.

If this is your situation please upload your positive test results to patient portal and notify the student health center through secure messaging. If you are still symptomatic you should not come to campus until you are no longer contagious.

Students who think they had COVID-19 but do not have laboratory proof are still required to submit a negative COVID-19 test.

Should I get the test while I’m home or when I arrive in Seattle?

Getting tested while you’re home is the preferred option to give time for test results to come in but it depends on what availability and turn-around time is for testing in your area.

How do I submit my COVID-19 test result?

  1. Go to the student medical portal at https://seattleu.medicatconnect.com/
    If you haven’t
  2. Username is your SU email username (everything before the “@seattleu.edu”)
  3. Password is your SU email password
  4. Select “Immunizations”
    We recognize that the COVID-19 test is not an immunization but this is the best process we could put in place
  5. Enter the dates and result of the COVID-19 test
  6. Upload the documentation