Campus & Community

Frequently Asked Questions About Weekly Surveillance Testing

Friday, February 19, 2021, By News Staff

Dear Students:

Over the last few days, we have received specific questions from many of you about the mandatory weekly testing program, when to test and who is subject to weekly testing. To provide further guidance on the weekly testing program, we have provided answers to the most frequently asked questions we are receiving.

As a reminder, please continue to visit Syracuse.edu/staysafe for the most up-to-date information. The following frequently asked questions, among others, are also available on that site:

Who must participate in weekly testing?
All students, including off-campus students, who access campus must participate in weekly testing. This means if you are coming to campus—no matter how infrequently and for any purpose—including to attend in-person classes, use the Libraries or Barnes Center at The Arch, visit a dining center or café, work, or conduct research, you must participate in weekly testing.

Do I have to participate in testing at the stadium on the same day each week?
No. You are required to participate in saliva surveillance testing weekly (at least every seven days). So long as you visit the Stadium Testing Center at a minimum of every seven days, you will remain in compliance. If the day you initially tested does not work with your schedule, you can return to the Stadium Testing Center at any point to test and begin a new seven-day window for compliance. Make a testing plan for yourself and don’t wait until the last minute.

What happens if I get a notice to test again because of an insufficient sample? How does that impact my compliance?
You will be notified via email if the sample you provided was insufficient to be tested by the laboratory. Most often, this occurs when an individual does not closely follow testing instructions—for example, by not providing enough saliva, providing mucus or phlegm rather than saliva, or providing a sample contaminated with food, drink or tobacco. Please return to the Stadium Testing Center as soon as possible to test again. If you do not return to re-test promptly, you risk being noncompliant.

If I have tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 90 days, am I required to participate in weekly surveillance testing?
Yes, you must participate in weekly testing. Simply notify the test administrator when visiting the Stadium Testing Center the date on which you have previously tested positive and your sample will be processed appropriately. If you have not already done so, please also upload your positive test result to the Student Patient Portal.

Please note, if you are currently in quarantine or isolation, or you are awaiting a diagnostic test result from the Barnes Center, you should not visit the Stadium Testing Center until cleared to do so.

If I have received the vaccine, am I required to participate in weekly surveillance testing?
Yes, you must participate in weekly testing.

How do I know when I need to test again?
Depending on when you last participated in surveillance saliva testing, you will need to test again within seven days of that date. When you receive email notification of a negative result, the email will also indicate the date by which you must test again. You will also receive email reminders beginning 48 hours in advance of becoming noncompliant.

When is the Stadium Testing Center open?
The current hours for the Stadium Testing Center are as follows:

  • Monday: 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
  • Tuesday: 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
  • Wednesday: 9 a.m.–2 p.m.; 5–10 p.m.
  • Thursday: 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
  • Friday: 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
  • Saturday: Closed
  • Sunday: 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

Thank you for your continued cooperation and participation in the weekly testing program.

Sincerely,

Syracuse University Public Health Team