COVID-19 Surveillance Testing

Students in University Housing and/or Athletics must be tested weekly regardless of vaccination status. Students who are not yet fully vaccinated and are accessing campus facilities must also be tested. 

MPPs, confidential employees, CSUEU, and non-represented student employees must also be tested weekly. However, employees in these groups who have uploaded their vaccine card may opt out of weekly surveillance testing.

Testing is still strongly encouraged for all individuals on campus, regardless of vaccination status.

If late, you may have to return on the subsequent testing date or you may be asked to wait until the testing provider can fit you in.

The campus will be providing drive-thru, full-service testing in Lot 2, from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. every Wednesday and Thursday (Thursdays beginning August 19).

The test is administered by the medical professional on site. An individual does have the option to self-administer the test if they choose.

No, this program is designed for asymptomatic participants only. If you are experiencing symptoms, please do not come to campus and contact your medical provider.

This is a PCR test performed on a nasal swab. It detects current infection with SARS-Cov-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. This test needs to be performed in a laboratory. It is not a rapid test (that can have results in 15 minutes) and does not detect possible immunity or if someone may have had the disease in the past (which would be a blood test for antibodies).

The PCR test is very accurate and is considered the "gold standard" for COVID-19 testing. However, False Negatives (tests that are negative, but person may have the disease) have been known to occur, especially if someone is very early in the disease process or did not properly swab to collect the sample. False Positives are extremely rare. Also, very rarely, a test may come back as "inconclusive" which would require that the person be retested.

Results should be emailed within 24 hours; however, depending on laboratory capacity, results may take as long as 48 hours.

No, proof of a negative result will not be required to enter a campus building. The testing program is intended to ensure that positive cases are identified right away and that appropriate health measures are taken to reduce further spread of the virus in our campus community.

Students, faculty, and staff who need to come to campus should continue to complete the COVID-19 symptoms self-assessment check on the iToros Mobile app.

Test results will be emailed to individual who took the test(s), as well as members of the COVID-19 Response Team designated to oversee campus cases and manage tracking of contacts. Testing results may also be made available to specific areas of campus as it is deemed necessary, such as administrators in Housing for management of cases in housing.

Individuals who receive a positive result should call the confidential university COVID-19 Reporting Hotline, (310) 243-2076. Additionally, if someone is having concerning symptoms (cough, fever, fatigue, etc.) they should call their own physician. CSUDH students may also call the Student Health Center (SHC) for a telehealth visit. The SHC does not see COVID-19 patients in person. If anyone is having severe symptoms, such a shortness of breath, chest pain, confusion, extreme lethargy or blue lips/fingers/toes, they should call 911 or go immediately to an emergency room.

A close contact is defined as someone who was within 6 feet for 15 minutes over a 24-hour period. Close contacts are determined by confirmation with the individual positive case. If you are identified as a close contact by a positive individual, then the COVID-19 response team will contact you. Additionally, the Student Health Center will have test kits onsite for individuals that may need to be tested outside of the designated weekly timeframe. The test will be self-administered, placed in a protected package, and test to the lab.

No, if you are not eligible for CSUDH's surveillance testing program, please see your healthcare provider or county testing sites. This interactive map shows testing locations in L.A. County and Orange County.

No, testing is not available to external members of the community.

The nasal swab may cause minor discomfort while the test is being administered.

Testing will be by appointment only. Eligible individuals will receive a link to the testing provider appointment portal.

Yes, you can choose to get tested elsewhere. However, the same testing frequency (weekly) applies. You can submit your test results via Dropbox.

If you had COVID-19 that was documented with a laboratory test within the past 90 days, you will not need to be retested. You need to call the COVID-19 Reporting Hotline and you will be directed on how to proceed. Re-testing within 90 days is usually not recommended since remnants of viral RNA from a prior infection may linger for 3 months and could give a False Positive result in a person who is recovered and is neither symptomatic nor infectious. Since there are other viruses circulating (influenza, etc.) you should still conduct daily symptom assessments and not come to campus if you are ill.