COVID Testing FAQs

FAQ

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

Testing is available through the Student Health Center. 

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 since symptoms began and at least 24 hours of symptom improvement including no fever without the use of fever reducing medications (Tylenol, ibuprofen,etc).
• If you are on campus, you need to notify housing staff and public safety as soon as possible at 206-296-5990 or Covid-19-report@seattleu.edu. Depending on where you are living you may need to be moved until your isolation period is complete.immediately and be evaluated by the Student Health Center to determine if you need to be moved to an isolation room.

Negative test but have now developed symptoms that could be COVID-19?

• If you are still home you should delay your travel, contact your health care provider for evaluation/repeat testing, and not come to campus until you’ve determined if you are infected with COVID. If initial test was done with an antigen test, repeat testing with a PCR is recommended. If test is positive see above questions about what to do if you test positive.
• If you are on campus, you need to be evaluated and retested ASAP. Also notify housing staff and public safety as soon as possible at 206-296-5990 or Covid-19-report@seattleu.edu.

Negative test but just had a close contact with someone was diagnosed with COVID

• 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 are on campus, you need to notify housing staff and public safety as soon as possible at 206-296-5990 or Covid-19-report@seattleu.edu. Depending on where you are living you may need to be moved until your quarantine period is complete.
• If you develop symptoms, you need to be evaluated and tested ASAP.

I received the COVID vaccine, do I still need to participate in the testing?

Yes, the vaccine is not 100% effective. In addition to continuing to follow all the mitigation strategies you will also need to particpate in testing.

For pre-arrival test 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 in the last 90 days 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 didn’t not have laboratory proof are still required to submit a negative COVID-19 test.

How do I submit my COVID-19 test result?

 To submit results you will need to go to the SU medical portal and submit under Immunizations.

For detailed step by step guidance please see: STEPS FOR SUBMITTING COVID TEST RESULTS

 

 

 

Positive test, why don't I have to get tested again for pre-arrival?

A person who is tested within 3 months of the initial infection with COVID-19 (as represented by the positive test) may continue to have a positive test result even though they are not spreading COVID-19. Per the CDC, available data indicate that persons with mild to moderate COVID-19 remain infectious no longer than 10 days after symptom onset, this is also the case for those with no symptoms.

Do I need to submit a test if I'm just coming onto campus to pick something up?

If you are coming onto campus for a quick drop off or pick up then you do not need to submit a COVID test. But please remember to complete the Safe Start Health Check prior to coming to campus for the quick visit.