On-campus testing will resume on Thursday, Jan. 21.
Mandatory Testing Guidance
In line with UW System Policy, UWRF is introducing mandatory COVID-19 testing for students and employees. Testing will occur as outlined below:
- Students living on-campus will be tested once per week.
- Students living off-campus, but coming to campus regularly, will be tested once every two weeks.
- UWRF employees working on campus will be tested every two weeks.
Your testing obligations will be managed through our online portal which will allow you a self-service style approach to organizing your testing schedule and retrieving information about results.
COVID-19 Testing Portal
How do I get a test?
Follow these steps to get a test:
- Schedule an appointment for your COVID-19 test
- Complete an online screening within 24 hours of your testing appointment.
- On the day of your test:
- New in Spring 2021 - Because we will now use saliva based PCR testing, do not eat, drink, smoke, vape, or consume any other substances within 1 hour of your testing appointment.
- Bring your smartphone, in case you need to sign up for test results, and your student ID.
- Arrive on time to the first floor of Hagestad Hall.
- Testing will be professionally administered and should only take a few minutes with results available within 15 minutes. If you need additional detailed confirmatory testing (PCR test), you may have an additional 15 minutes. If you did not withhold eating, drinking, vaping, or smoking 1 hour prior you will need to wait additional time. Depending on the results, appropriate information and medical advice will be presented.
How do I provide documentation of previous test results and what will be accepted?
- Submit an exception request using the portal and provide documented proof of either having tested negative or positive.
- Negative tests must be completed within the last 7 days of the current date, or within your obligation date range.
- Tested positive with a PCR test in the last 90 days and completed your isolation time. You will be excluded from testing for 90 days from the test date.
- If you tested positive with only an antigen test, you will not receive an exclusion from testing as antigen tests are not recognized by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services as a confirmatory test. You may upload the test to get an exception for your current obligation only.
- If you tested positive on campus and completed isolation in UWRF isolation space, you do NOT need to provide documentation. If you need a copy of your documentation, reach out to your contact tracer for another copy or chat with the contact tracing team in the portal.
- Your test results can also be found in the portal.
- Results from tests done by Vibrant Clinics through Student Health Services have to be uploaded using the portal.
- We are currently not accepting at home, self-administered and processed COVID-19 tests as an acceptable form of exception to testing. Several self-administered, process at home options are rapidly coming to market, using a special kit to get results in minutes. Until the accuracy of these tests can be evaluated, we are presently not accepting those results as exceptions to testing.
- We will continue to require that tests be conducted (and quality checked) by certified providers such as pharmacies, medical providers, drive-thru test centers, and mail-in kits requiring a video call with the laboratory. Free tests from the State of Wisconsin are mail-in and are accepted for results.
Where can I get a test?
Testing will be offered to UWRF students on the first floor of Hagestad Hall weekdays. Students may also use the university health care provider (Vibrant Health Clinic in River Falls) through Student Health Services or their own provider for testing. Tests done at Vibrant Clinics through Student Health Services have to be uploaded using the portal to get credit for testing.
What if I'm experiencing symptoms and there are no on-campus appointments available?
Walk-in testing is available at the first floor Hagestad Hall location if you are symptomatic and there are no open appointment times. Complete the online screening, do not eat, drink, vape, or smoke within 1 hour. Go to the testing site before 3:00 PM as a walk-in person.
Why should I get a test if I'm not experiencing any symptoms?
We have heard from most of our students who tested positive that they were surprised by their positive test results. Even if you are not experiencing symptoms at this time, you can get tested to help keep our campus community safe. It is important to realize that you can be infected and spread the virus but feel well and have no symptoms.
What can I expect on the day of the test?
On the day of the test, you should arrive at Hagestad Hall, first floor. For this process to function smoothly, it is critical that you pay attention to the date and time of your appointment. Other things to note:
- Prepare a bag for the potential of 10 days of isolation.
- Do not eat, drink, vape, smoke, or consume anything for 1 hour prior to your appointment.
- Bring your ID and smartphone.
- Testing should only take about five minutes to complete.
- Antigen test results will be available in 15 minutes. Depending on the results, appropriate information and medical advice will be presented and additional PCR testing may be required.
- PCR confirmation tests will take another 15 minutes to administer. Results from the PCR test will be available in 2-5 days.
Who should I contact if I haven't received the results of my PCR test results after the specified time period?
Those tested on campus should contact WHL at 608-668-2111.