Testing

Regular, weekly asymptomatic testing is required for all unvaccinated students, faculty and staff.

In accordance with the UC COVID-19 Vaccine Policy, students, faculty and staff who are not fully vaccinated and who are entering or physically present on UCI-controlled property must undergo weekly asymptomatic testing. This requirement also applies those who have an approved exemption, exception or deferral.

Asymptomatic testing is for students and employees who do not have symptoms.

Students, faculty and staff may receive an asymptomatic test from the campus testing site by making an appointment on the Student Health Center portal or by dropping by the test site.

A sampling of fully vaccinated students, faculty and staff will test asymptomatically weekly. Students, faculty and staff will be contacted directly if they are required to test in a particular week.

• 25% of fully vaccinated undergraduate students living in on-campus housing
• 5% of the remaining fully vaccinated students, faculty and staff

Students who indicate symptoms on the Daily Symptom Check will be referred to the Student Health Center for evaluation and symptomatic testing if needed.

Faculty and staff who indicate symptoms on the Daily Symptom Check will be referred to the Center for Occupational and Environmental Health (COEH).

COVID-19 testing is currently completed via a supervised self-administered nasal swab or saliva test that takes about 7-10 minutes, is cost-free to eligible groups on campus, and results are available within 24 - 48 hours. 

Student Testing Info Employee Testing Info Testing Locations

Executive Directive: Testing Fact Sheet - SalivaDirect Testing

Weekly testing is mandatory for all students who are not fully vaccinated; who have an approved exemption, exception or deferral, who have not received an approved exemption, exception, deferral; or who are “covered individuals”  as defined by the policy. A covered individual is defined as any student who will  be on campus or access any University facility at any time during the Fall term.

In addition, please note the following:

1. Fully vaccinated undergraduate students who reside in campus housing must be tested monthly. The assignment of testing appointments will be determined before the start of the Fall quarter. Students will be notified and this webpage will be updated accordingly.
2. 5% of all other fully vaccinated students will be randomly selected for testing each month. Students will be notified directly and advised to schedule their testing appointment.

Testing requirements

Undergraduate Resident

Graduate Resident

OFF-CAMPUS-All students

[1] A random sample of vaccinated students will be selected and contacted by email to participate in surveillance testing.

Undergraduate Resident Testing

Who will be tested: All Undergraduate Students Residing in Campus Housing (including ACC)

How often: Monthly or about 3x during the quarter

When will it start: October 4 or the beginning of Week 2

When will I know when to schedule my testing appointment: You are required to schedule your monthly appointment based on alphabetical order by last name. See the ‘Fall 2021 - Monthly Appointment Schedule’ chart below for your assigned dates. 

How to schedule your appointment

Students may schedule recurring appointments by logging in to the Student Health Patient Portal. Once in the portal,

• Select “Appointments” on the left navigation sidebar
• Click on “Schedule an Appointment”
• Select “COVID-19 Testing” – click “Continue”
• Select “Student COVID Testing” – click “Continue”
• Note the testing locations that are available
• Select the testing location – click “Continue”
• Confirm your contact information (email address, local telephone, local address) – click “Continue”. 
• Enter your callback number (required in case Testing site staff or Student Health Center staff need to contact you regarding the appointment you are scheduling) – click “Continue”.
• Schedule your appointment. (click to view more) Staff at the testing site will convert your appointment to be a weekly recurring appointment. 
• Confirm selected appointment

Students having difficulty accessing the patient portal to schedule their appointment can contact the Coronavirus Response Center at 949-824-9918 or covid19@uci.edu for assistance.

Student Health Patient Portal

What to expect and what to bring

On the day of your testing appointment,

1. Complete your Daily Symptom Check.
   1. If you are not showing symptoms, keep your appointment and proceed to your testing location.
   2. If you are showing symptoms, do not go to the test collection site. Please contact the Student Health Center at 949-824-5301 for instructions. If you have health insurance other than UC SHIP and have your own primary care provider, then you should also contact your PCP’s office to advise them of your symptoms.
2. Know where you are going and give yourself enough time to get there.
   1. Confirm the location of your appointment and locate it on the map.
   2. Plan to arrive at least 5 minutes before your appointment time.
3. Don’t leave home without these items:
   1. Face covering (and a spare face covering)
   2. Your student ID card or student ID number and another form of picture ID if you do not have your student ID card.

Please do NOT bring anyone with you unless absolutely necessary.

Student FAQ

Weekly testing is mandatory for all employees who are not fully vaccinated; who have an approved exemption, exception or deferral, who have not received an approved exemption, exception, deferral; or who are “covered individuals”  as defined by the policy. A covered individual is defined as any student who will  be on campus or access any University facility at any time during the Fall term.

Asymptomatic, fully vaccinated employees will participate in periodic sampling. Surveillance testing is an additional important source of information to learn about the rate of breakthrough cases in our community. Just about every peer campus is carrying out some level of surveillance testing. Our asymptomatic testing program impacts only a small fraction of our community each week; we are starting with a sampling rate that would have each employee tested less than once per quarter on average. To provide accurate data for the community, it is important that the program include all employees who are working on campus, even those who are primarily remote.

More information on employee testing is available on HR's website. 

Working Well: Asymptomatic Testing

How to schedule your weekly test

Testing volume is expected to be high, employees are strongly encouraged to schedule an appointment in advance.

Employee FAQ

If you have COVID-19-related questions, please contact the UCI Coronavirus Hotline at 949-824-9918 or email covid19@uci.edu.