COVID-19 Testing

Rutgers University is currently offering SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing (for the active virus that leads to COVID-19) to specified groups of employees and students who are working and learning on campus. Rutgers will utilize a targeted testing approach based on the risk of transmission of COVID-19 within the university community to identify, and receive requests on behalf of, groups to be tested.

This strategic approach is informed by the guidance put forth by the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and will use a combination of testing methods to test students and employees at higher risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19.

The university Testing Protocol Action Group will determine which groups of students or employees should be recommended and/or required to complete testing through the Rutgers COVID-19 testing program.

The university Testing Protocol Action Group will recommend SARS-CoV-2 testing based on risk assessments of individuals or groups to help mitigate the risk of transmission for strategic reasons. Testing will help detect asymptomatic occurrences of infection and prevent further transmission by enabling contact tracing and providing guidance about self-isolation and health precautions.

The risk-assessment focus of our testing strategy means that testing will not be required or recommended for all employees or students.

Testing strategy decisions will be based on risk assessments and other factors below, as well as case identification/outbreaks.

The university Testing Protocol Action Group is informed by:

• CDC and NJDOH Guidance
• Health system partner requirements
• Testing capacity/logistics

Risk assessments will be based on, but not limited to, the following criteria:

• Ability to maintain physical distancing while completing activities on campus
• Working and/or learning in a patient-care environment
• Exposure to a confirmed COVID-19 case
• Congregate living environment (e.g. residence halls)
• Working and/or learning in an environment where they may expose individuals who are at risk for severe illness
• Other factors that may increase or decrease risk based on the evolving science and public health data

The university Testing Protocol Action Group is recommending SARS-CoV-2 testing based on risk assessments of individuals or groups to help mitigate the risk of transmission for strategic reasons. If you have been notified that you are in a group identified for testing, it is because an administrator and supervisor in your department indicated that you are within a group that meets the criteria for recommended testing. Testing will help detect asymptomatic occurrences of infection and prevent further transmission by enabling contact tracing and providing guidance about self-isolation and health precautions.

Testing will be offered, but in most cases, not required. Those where testing will be mandatory to work or learn are in settings such as health systems, agencies, or k-12 school systems. Testing will be required for students desiring to live in on-campus housing.

Those who have been in close contact with individuals with confirmed COVID-19 infection may be offered testing, but it will not be required.

The Rutgers testing program is not able to test all faculty, staff and students associated with Rutgers. Rutgers employees who feel a group should be tested should work with their supervisor to review instructions and complete the Testing Request form. You can receive testing outside of the Rutgers testing program through your health care provider, local pharmacy or state testing site.

Individual testing requests should be directed to your personal health care provider. If you believe that your department should be tested, please direct that suggestion to your department leadership who may make a request for testing through the university Testing Protocol Action Group by completing the Testing Request form.

The safety and well-being of the Rutgers community is a shared responsibility among all of its members. All members of the Rutgers community should monitor symptoms daily and stay home if they are ill, wear face coverings to help reduce the spread of disease, practice social distancing, wash hands frequently, and wipe down frequently used surfaces. Performing these measures will help to prevent disease transmission.

Please visit the Returning to Rutgers plan shared on coronavirus.rutgers.edu to learn more about how the university is working to keep our community safe.

Yes. Rutgers does not recognize the antibody test as a valid test for purposes of identifying disease.

No.

Testing will be offered, but in most cases not required. Those where testing will be mandatory to work or learn are in settings where testing is required such as health systems, agencies, or school systems. Testing will be required for students desiring to live in on-campus housing. As groups are identified for testing, the university Testing Protocol Action Group will indicate the level of testing recommended—not offered, offered, highly recommended, expected.

Those who have been in close contact with individuals with confirmed COVID-19 infection may be offered testing, but it will not be required.

Based on these balanced considerations, the university Testing Protocol Action Group or public health experts may determine that other groups have a testing requirement as we move through the coming months.

Students moving in to on-campus housing must undergo COVID-19 PCR testing one to three weeks prior to move-in day. A second test will be done at move-in. Students should expect periodic testing throughout the semester. Find more information at health.rutgers.edu/covid-19-testing.

Rutgers utilizing Saliva PCR tests for this program. The test is a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Emergency Use Authorization authorized molecular test that uses a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to identify the presence of viral transcripts which, if present, confirm an active infection of COVID-19.

The test meets FDA sensitivity and specificity standards for the detection of COVID-19. The use of saliva as the primary test material is directly comparable to all other sample types currently used for testing. Positive test results are very reliable; however, an individual could be tested too early in the course of their illness to detect the virus, resulting in a false negative test.

The university is offering the testing via drive through clinics, walk-in services, and/or departmental distribution, based upon the needs of the group to be tested and the availability of resources.

Testing is available on each of the five Rutgers campuses: RBHS–Newark, Rutgers–Newark, RBHS–New Brunswick/Piscataway, Rutgers–New Brunswick, and Rutgers–Camden.

Drive-through testing clinics are available on all campuses to any member of the Rutgers community authorized to receive COVID-19 testing. You may go to clinic location. Please make an appointment through the Return to Rutgers page: go.rutgers.edu/COVID-19-Testing.

Testing in the health care workforce will be coordinated with our health care system partners to provide as much consistency as possible.

Identifying information will never be shared publicly. Aggregate test results and total number of tests performed through the Rutgers strategic testing program are shared on the university’s testing program dashboard.

If you have already tested positive for COVID-19, you should not be retested at this time.

Yes, you can be tested again if you are in a group authorized by the university Testing Protocol Action Group for testing.

Repeat testing for particular groups may be required and would be subject to the review by the Testing Protocol Action Group.

Cyclical repeated testing in the absence of symptoms or a particular high-risk exposure may be recommended for select groups, but is not recommended for all groups at this time.

If you are experiencing any symptoms related to COVID-19, you must stay home, notify your supervisor as soon as possible, and contact your personal health care provider or student health to discuss testing and treatment. Symptoms may include fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, fatigue, muscle aches, loss of sense of smell or taste, or stomach upset.

The Rutgers testing program is designed for asymptomatic individuals in an attempt to contain the spread of disease through asymptomatic transmission.

The Rutgers testing program utilizes the Saliva PCR test to identify virus particles. Salvia is deposited into a test tube, similar to giving a specimen for the well-known commercial genetic testing companies. As compared with the nasopharyngeal swab method, this testing method reduces risk of transmission, reduces use of personal protective equipment, and can be done at home.

Yes, you can upload valid PCR test result documents to Rutgers Environmental Health and Safety COVID-19 Testing website. Only FDA authorized PCR tests will be accepted. Antibody tests are NOT acceptable.

Once you have been authorized to receive testing, you will receive a message from Student Health or Occupational Health or your department that offers guidance regarding how to receive testing and includes a testing questionnaire that must be completed on the Rutgers Environmental Health and Safety COVID-19 Testing website. Testing will be organized through your department or school in conjunction with Occupational Health or Student Health

Those who have concerns about accessing their official university email account should work with their supervisor.

Claims for testing will be submitted by the lab to your health insurance. No copay or coinsurance fee is to be charged for COVID-19 related testing or services.

No.

Results will typically be available about 48–72 hours from the time the sample is submitted to the lab.

You will be notified via email when your test results are available for viewing. You can access your results by logging into the Rutgers Environmental Health and Safety COVID-19 Testing website using your NetID and password (two-step authentication is required — to enable two-step authentication, visit OIT for instructions). From the website you can print the test result and a clearance letter for your supervisor.

Those who have tested positive will receive phone notification from Occupational Health or Student Health.

A positive test indicates the presence of the novel coronavirus in the sample that was tested. Individuals who test positive for SARS-CoV-2 may never develop symptoms or you may develop symptoms in the future. It is possible to transmit the virus even in the absence of symptoms. You will need to self-isolate for at least 10 days to prevent transmission to others. If your test result is positive, someone from Occupational or Student Health will contact you to provide instructions and answer questions. In addition, you will be contacted by the local health department in an effort to identify any additional close contact you may have to help identify others who may be at risk for disease and again help to reduce transmission and contain the virus. Please notify your supervisor and contact UHR OneSource for appropriate leave information.

Rutgers will store the individual data in a secure electronic environment. While individual results will never be reported, aggregate results for all testing done through the Rutgers testing program will be tracked and reviewed by the Rutgers Testing Protocol Action Group to monitor community health.

All laboratories conducting testing are required by law to report results to the New Jersey Department of Health. The health care provider ordering the testing may also report positive testing to the local health department. Reporting positive cases to the local health department facilitates the processes for contact tracing—an important aspect of trying to reduce the transmission of disease. If you have tested positive, others you have come into contact with, including individuals in your workplace, may be contacted for contact tracing, but your name will not be released.

Your supervisor will be notified that you are not cleared to return to work to ensure that safety measures are being taken in your workplace. Your close contacts will be asked to quarantine for 14 days.

A negative test means that the novel coronavirus is not detected in the sample that was tested. Individuals who test negative may still become infected in the future and need to follow all recommended workplace and community precautions. There is a chance of a false negative. A second test within 1-3 weeks will often help reduce this false negative rate.

Rutgers will store the individual data in a secure electronic environment. While individual results will never be reported, aggregate results for all testing done through the Rutgers testing program will be tracked and reviewed by the Rutgers Testing Protocol Action Group to monitor community health.

Testing will be offered, but in most cases, not required. Those where testing will be mandatory to work or learn are in settings such as health systems, agencies, or k-12 school systems. Testing will be required for students desiring to live in on-campus housing.

Those who have been in close contact with individuals with confirmed COVID-19 infection will be offered testing, but it will not be required.

A positive test indicates the presence of the novel coronavirus in the sample that was tested. You may develop symptoms in the future, or you may never develop symptoms. It is possible to transmit the virus even in the absence of symptoms. You will need to self-isolate for at least 10 days to prevent transmission to others. If your test result is positive, someone from Occupational or Student Health will contact you to provide instructions and answer questions. In addition, you will be contacted by the local health department in an effort to identify any additional close contact you may have to help identify others who may be at risk for disease and again help to reduce transmission and contain the virus. Please notify your supervisor and contact UHR OneSource for appropriate leave information.

A negative test means that the novel coronavirus is not detected by the test at this time. Individuals who test negative may still become infected in the future and need to follow all recommended workplace and community precautions. There is a chance of a false negative. A second test within 1–3 weeks will often help reduce this false negative rate.

Rutgers will store the individual data in a secure electronic environment. While individual results will never be reported, aggregate results for all testing done through the Rutgers testing program will be tracked and reviewed by the Rutgers Testing Protocol Action Group to monitor community health. Aggregate test results and total number of tests performed through the Rutgers strategic testing program are shared on the university’s testing program dashboard.

All laboratories conducting testing are required by law to report results to the New Jersey Department of Health. The health care provider ordering the testing may also report positive testing to the local health department. Reporting positive cases to the local health department facilitates the processes for contact tracing—an important aspect of trying to reduce the transmission of disease. If you have tested positive, others you have come into contact with, including individuals in your workplace, may be contacted for contact tracing, but your name will not be released.

If you have tested positive your supervisor will be notified that you are not cleared to return to work to ensure that safety measures are being taken in your workplace. Your close contacts will be asked to quarantine for 14 days.

You must self-isolate at home for at least 10 days from the date of the positive test. Should you become symptomatic during that time, consult your health care provider. Your period of self-isolation may be extended to 10 days from symptom onset and 1-3 days after resolution of fever and improvement of symptoms. Occupational Health or Student Health will inform you when you may return to campus. With supervisor approval, if telecommuting is an option given your job function, you may work remotely during the period of self-isolation as long as you are well enough to do so safely.

Employees who test positive and are unable to work remotely should contact UHR OneSource to determine the appropriate type of leave, if eligible, to be taken.

Employees who are quarantined because of close contact with a positive case, should contact UHR OneSource to determine the appropriate type of leave, if eligible, to be taken.

Testing through the Rutgers testing program is not available to family members. Family members should contact their health care providers so that they can be tested according to current guidelines. Testing can also be obtained at many pharmacies or NJDOH testing sites. Information on NJDOH testing sites can be found at: https://covid19.nj.gov/pages/testing.

If you are experiencing any symptoms, you must remain at home, notify your supervisor, and contact your personal health care provider for testing and treatment.

Asymptomatic individuals who have tested positive as part of the Rutgers testing program will be informed by Occupational Health or Student Health when they may return to work or study.

Asymptomatic individuals who have tested positive from a privately obtained test should obtain a clearance letter from their physician.

Symptomatic individuals should obtain a clearance letter from their physician in order to be cleared to return to work. In the case of physician unavailability or office closures, a signed self-attestation of improvement in symptoms (consistent with CDC guidance on ending isolation after COVID-19 infection), may be made available through UHR OneSource and can suffice as return-to-campus documentation.

If you have been notified that you are in a group identified for testing, your testing instructions will include a schedule for repeat testing if it is deemed necessary. Repeat testing requirements are determined by evaluating a group’s repeated exposure, new increase in exposure, continuing risk of spread to high-risk individuals, and if environmental rates of community exposure have increased. Repeat testing may also be required if an administrator or supervisor in your department indicated that your group was newly at risk of meeting the requirements listed above.

Because Rutgers is a multifaceted organization in which many of our community members fill several roles, you may also be identified for testing as a result of risk associated with a different set of responsibilities or group affiliation. If this happens, please contact the appropriate office of student or occupational health to determine your testing needs.

Retesting may also be required if your original test result returned inconclusive results, in which case you will be notified by the appropriate student or occupational health office.

Likely, just once. If you have been notified that you are in a group identified for testing, your testing instructions will include a schedule for repeat testing if it is deemed necessary. Repeat testing requirements are determined by evaluating a group’s repeated exposure, new increase in exposure, continuing risk of spread to high-risk individuals, and if environmental rates of community exposure have increased. Repeat testing may also be required if an administrator or supervisor in your department indicated that your group was newly at risk of meeting the requirements listed above.

Because Rutgers is a multifaceted organization in which many of our community members fill several roles, you may also be identified for testing as a result of risk associated with a different set of responsibilities or group affiliation. If this happens, please contact the appropriate office of student or occupational health to determine your testing needs.

Retesting may also be required if your original test result returned inconclusive results, in which case you will be notified by the appropriate student or occupational health office.

If you have been notified that you are in a group identified for testing, your testing instructions will include a schedule for repeat testing if it is deemed necessary. Repeat testing requirements are determined by evaluating a group’s repeated exposure, new increase in exposure, continuing risk of spread to high-risk individuals, and if environmental rates of community exposure have increased. Repeat testing may also be required if an administrator or supervisor in your department indicated that your group was newly at risk of meeting the requirements listed above.

Retesting may also be required if your original test result returned inconclusive results, in which case you will be notified by the appropriate student or occupational health office.