Testing for COVID-19 is available on campus for employees and students, whether they live on or off campus.
Testing for COVID-19 at University Health Services
Have a tickle in your throat or think you may have been exposed to COVID-19? On-campus testing is available for students and employees with COVID-19 symptoms or who have been exposed.
Schedule a Test
Call 423-425-2266 to schedule an appointment with University Health Services. COVID-19 testing and medical appointments are available Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Depending on multiple factors, including the testing type used, UHS anticipates test results will be available within 48 hours or faster.
- Students and employees will be asked to provide health insurance information. Testing for COVID-19 at UHS is done at no cost to the patient, but charges may be incurred for additional services rendered.
To learn more, visit utc.edu/university-health-services.
Next Steps
Any UTC community member who is experiencing symptoms, may have been exposed to or is being tested for COVID-19 should submit a COVID-19 Notification Form.
- Submitting this form triggers a notification to the COVID-19 Campus Support Team.
- Students and employees will be contacted by a team member within 24 hours
- If needed, the team can provide academic notifications to faculty teaching a student’s classes.
If a student or employee is symptomatic, COVID-positive or identified as being exposed, the individual will be expected to isolate or quarantine.
Learn more about the isolation and quarantine process at utc.edu/isolate-quarantine.
Routine Testing Program
UTC students and employees are expected to participate in the University’s Routine Testing Program.
Adding routine testing to the University’s existing testing strategies will help to identify individuals who are unknowingly infected with the virus, minimizing the risk of spreading the virus to others.
The Process
Chosen
Around 1,000 campus community members will be randomly selected for testing each week. Students, faculty and staff will participate in the Routine Testing Program.
Notified
Students and employees selected for testing will receive an email at the end of the week notifying them that they have been selected for routine testing the following week.
Schedule
Participants then choose an appointment time that best fits their schedule. Plan to spend 30 minutes at the testing center.
Get Tested
Arrive at the Routine Testing Center at the day and time of your appointment.
Check in at the Routine Testing Center and you’ll be directed to a testing room.
Under the direction of a testing assistant, you will be guided through a nasal self-swab and test preparation.
Await Results
Once the test kit is completed, wait 15 minutes on-site for test results. The testing assistant at the center will provide the test results.
Now what?
If your test is negative, you’re good to go.
If your test is positive or invalid, remain at the testing center for follow-up testing.
Routine Testing Frequently Asked Questions
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Why routine testing now?
Recommendations for routine and mass testing have continued to evolve throughout the pandemic. The most recent recommendations call for people without symptoms on college campuses to undergo routine testing in addition to the previous recommendations for testing of symptomatic and exposed individuals.
These recommendations have been endorsed by well-respected health care providers and organizations, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College Health Association.
Recent evidence suggests more than half of infection transmission occurs by people who are infected but not showing symptoms.
Adding routine testing to our existing testing strategies will help to identify people who are unknowingly infected with the virus, halting the risk of spreading the virus to others.
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Who will be tested and how will they be selected?
Around 1,000 participants will be randomly selected each week from a pool of campus community members including faculty, staff and students.
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What form of test is being used?
The tests used at the Routine Testing Center are the Abbott BinaxNow rapid antigen tests.
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Will someone be selected for testing more than once in a semester?
It is possible to be selected more than once in a semester.
Once a participant has been tested in one round, that person will be exempt for the following round of testing.
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What if I have symptoms of COVID-19 and have been selected for routine testing?
Campus community members who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should not participate in routine testing until cleared to do so.
Campus community members who are exhibiting symptoms consistent with COVID-19 should submit a COVID-19 Notification Form and follow the procedure outlined in the participant selection email they received.
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What if I think I have been exposed to COVID-19 and have been selected for routine testing?
Campus community members who believe they have been exposed to COVID-19 should not participate in routine testing until cleared to do so.
Campus community members who believe they were exposed to COVID-19 should submit a COVID-19 Notification Form and follow the procedure outlined in the participant selection email they received.
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What if I had COVID-19 within the last 90 days?
If you tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 90 days, you will need to submit your results to the UTC Campus Support Team if you haven’t already. Students who have submitted acceptable documentation are exempt from Routine Testing until 90 days have passed from their positive test.
If you are selected for Routine Testing and have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 90 days, you should submit a Waiver Request Form to detail your circumstances.
Additional information and a link to the form will be available in the email you receive if you are selected as a participant.
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What if I’m attending classes exclusively online?
If you are not currently visiting campus for any reason or will not be on campus for this round, you can apply for an exemption.
Participants may apply for an exemption for a selected round of testing for reasons such as:- You are not currently visiting campus for any reason or will not be on campus for this round.
- You tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 90 days.
- You are showing symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or are currently in isolation.
- You have been exposed to COVID-19 and are currently in quarantine.
If you meet one of these qualifications, you should submit details in the Waiver Request Form included in the participant selection email to be considered for an exemption.
These requests will be reviewed and approved or denied on an individual basis.
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What happens if I have a job that prevents me from coming in on a specific day?
Selected participants can schedule their testing appointment from a wide range of days and times based on their own availability.
We recommend signing up as soon as you are permitted, before appointment times start filling up.
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I'm a student who lives off campus, do I still have to participate in routine testing?
All students who visit campus for any reason or are actively engaged on campus will be in the pool of eligible students and possibly selected for Routine Testing.
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Will I be required to travel to Chattanooga if I live out of town?
Participants may apply for an exemption for a selected round of testing for reasons such as:
- You are not currently visiting campus for any reason or will not be on campus for this round.
- You tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 90 days.
- You are showing symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or are currently in isolation.
- You have been exposed to COVID-19 and are currently in quarantine.
If you meet one of these qualifications, you should submit details in the Waiver Request Form included in the participant selection email to be considered for an exemption.
These requests will be reviewed and approved or denied on an individual basis.
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What happens if I test positive at the Routine Testing Center?
Participants who test positive on their initial rapid test will remain at the Routine Testing Center for further instructions and an additional test.
If the second test confirms a positive case, the participant will be given additional instructions regarding isolation and next steps including options for moving to isolation housing if the student lives on campus.
If you are confirmed as positive for COVID-19, your contact information and testing status will be submitted to the UTC Contact Tracing Team. This information will be shared with the COVID-19 Campus Support Team as necessary as well as the local and state health departments per public health reporting requirements.
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If I’m selected for routine testing, when will I be notified?
Email notifications are sent toward the end of the business week.
These emails will be sent from routinetesting@utc.edu.
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What happens if I don’t participate in routine testing or respond to the email notification?
UTC students and employees are required to participate. Any individual who does not participate may face disciplinary action.
The University can require Routine testing as a condition of employment and/or enrollment as a student.
For students
This is a directive of the University to help maintain the health and safety of the University community. Failing to participate in testing is considered failing to comply with the directive of a University official. Penalties for students are handled on a case-by-case basis, and may include loss of privileges, account holds, etc.
For employees
This is a directive of the University to maintain the health and safety of the University community. Employees who refuse to participate may be subject to disciplinary action.
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Can I get tested for COVID-19 on campus even if I’m not selected for routine testing?
You can always contact UTC University Health Services to seek additional free testing options.
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If I have the COVID-19 vaccine, am I still required to participate in testing?
Being vaccinated for COVID-19 does not exempt community members from Routine Testing.