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 have already moved onto 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, 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-19 is 10 days from onset of symptomsand 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 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 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 have already moved onto 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 yourquarantine period is complete.
• If you develop symptoms, see above response about someone who has developed symptoms

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.

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 have already moved onto 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 yourquarantine period is complete.
• If you develop symptoms, see above response about someone who has developed symptoms

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 7^th 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 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 submitt results you will need to go to the SU medical portal and submit under Immunizations.

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

 

 

 

Positive test, why don't I have to get tested again?

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.

SU management and recomendations to students who test positive for COVID-19 are:

• Those who have never had symptoms are required to isolate for 10 days. After this 10 day isolation they are considered no longer infectious.
• Those who have symptoms are required to stay in isolation until:
  • 10 days since symptom onset AND
  • No fever for at least 24 hours without medication AND
  • Symptom improvement
  • Once they meet all 3 criteria they are considered no longer infectious

A person with severe disease may need to follow different guidance but they will likely be hospitalized and closely followed by their healthcare provider who will determine when it is safe to discontinue isolation.

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.