COVID-19 Screening Program

Contact the ISU Help Desk at (208) 282-help 

Yes. All faculty, staff, student employees, or students who will be physically interacting with other members of the campus community or campus services must participate in the return-to-campus screening program and be screened. Additionally, those selected for the ongoing COVID-19 screening, must also be screened. Employees who are strictly working remotely and students who only participate in online classes and do not interact with the campus community to access services do not need to participate in this screening program.

Idaho State University’s COVID-19 screening program consists of two parts:

1. The return-to-campus screening program requires all students, faculty, and staff with a physical presence on campus to be screened twice within a five-day period during the month of January. 

All faculty, staff and students who will be physically on campus at one of our locations and interacting with others during the 2021 spring semester must participate in the return-to-campus screening program. If you will be returning to campus when the University resumes regular hours and spring 2021 classes in January, you will need to be tested during the January timeframe. Even after January, if you periodically visit campus and interact with others (meetings, accessing services, etc.) you must be tested before you return to campus.

Employees who are fully working remotely do not need to be tested. Students who are enrolled in distance-based courses and not coming on to campus to access instruction or services do not need to participate in the screening program. If someone is coming on campus to meet another person, interact with others, or have contact with other members of the campus community, then testing will be mandatory. 

2. An ongoing COVID-19 screening program for select populations of students, faculty and staff with a physical presence on campus.  

A percentage of on-campus faculty, staff, and students will be screened at random on a weekly, ongoing basis for the duration of the spring semester. This percentage will be determined by a recommendation from the ISU Health Committee and collaboratively approved by the Administrative Council. Screening recommendations will be based on contact tracing, local disease rates, and data gathered from prior campus test results. In the event that an individual falls into multiple eligible groups, the most frequent screening strategy will apply. Individuals will be notified by email if they have been selected for ongoing screening.

Individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 by PCR or antigen AND provide documentation of the test results are exempt from COVID-19 screening for 180 days following their positive test date may be exempt from screening.

Alternative Compliance Tutorial

Hours vary by campus location.

See Screening Locations, Dates, and Times

Screening: Idaho State’s screening program is for people who have no symptoms and no known COVID-19 exposure. This is done to identify individuals with the virus before symptoms develop and before they spread the disease to others.

Testing: COVID-19 testing is designed for those who are symptomatic, have a known exposure to COVID-19, or who have a positive result from the screening program. If you fall in this category, call the University Health Center at (208) 282-2330 for testing information AND fill out the online self-report form.

Asymptomatic cases of COVID-19 do occur, so any positive case should be treated as such with appropriate self-isolation protocols as directed by the University’s COVID-19 Health Committee. While false positives can happen, they are extremely rare with the PCR method. Faculty, staff, or students with positive results from the screening program may seek to be retested through community COVID-19 testing sites, but will not be rescreened through the asymptomatic screening program. 

No. This program is intended for ongoing screening of asymptomatic individuals to proactively identify undetected COVID-19 positive cases for the continued safety of the campus community. Because of this, all faculty, staff, and students who will have an on-campus presence or plan to interact with other members of the campus community must participate in the screening program. 

If you are working remotely or taking classes fully online, and will have no interaction with other members of the campus community, no. However, if you will be returning to campus at any point for meetings or to use other services and will interact with other members of the campus community, you must participate in the screening program.

No. Given the amount of people that visit campus that need to be screened, we must prioritize those individuals first to help ensure a safe campus. However, faculty, staff, and students that exhibit symptoms consistent with COVID-19 can continue to be tested through the University Health Center, Holt Arena, and through Unity Health (Meridian). 

All faculty, staff, and students will receive an email from our screening vendor to complete the registration process and select an appointment time. Employees who are working remotely and students who are enrolled in only online classes, and not interacting with the campus community for any services (Recreation Center, Library, etc.) do not need to schedule a screening appointment. However, if you plan to access campus services or visit a University location periodically that results in your interaction with other members of the campus community, you must participate in this screening program.

There is no cost associated with participating in Idaho State’s screening program. The University is covering all expenses related to the screening.

No. Because this screening program is only intended for individuals who are asymptomatic and with no known COVID-19 exposures, you can continue working or attending classes on campus even while you are awaiting results. Please be aware that while on campus, regardless of your  results, all faculty, staff and students must continue to adhere to all COVID-19 safety protocols (use of cloth face coverings, maintaining physical distance, handwashing, etc.).

The University Health Center and the COVID-19 Health Committee will receive your results. You will also be notified and have the option to download your lab result. In addition, the State of Idaho requires reporting of aggregate screening data as well to the Idaho Department of Health & Welfare.

If you work entirely remotely or are taking classes completely online, and are not engaging with any members of the campus community for meetings, services, etc., you do not have to be included in the screening. However, if you will be on campus engaging with faculty, staff, students, or other services (Recreation Center, Library, etc.) you must be included in the mandatory screening. The University will have a process in place for medical and religious exemption requests. 

If you will be resuming or continuing to work on campus as of the beginning of the spring 2021 semester, you will need to be included in the mandatory screening. This program is intended for screening of asymptomatic individuals to proactively identify undetected COVID-19 positive cases for the continued safety of the campus community. Because of this, all faculty, staff, and students who will have an on-campus presence or plan to interact with other members of the campus community must participate in the program.

Faculty, staff, and students will receive an email with a registration link to schedule an appointment. On-campus screening locations will be established in Pocatello, Idaho Falls, and Meridian. Arrangements will also be made for screening in Twin Falls and Anchorage, Alaska. You will go to the assigned on-campus screening location at your scheduled time to provide a saliva sample. The entire screening process is non-invasive, does not require close contact with others, and should take less than ten minutes. Results are expected to be returned in 24-72 hours. The University is using a saliva-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) screen, which is the gold standard diagnostic tool. Because it is saliva-based, it is recommended that you hydrate the hour before your sample is collected. Also, you should not eat, drink, smoke, chew gum, brush your teeth, or use mouthwash in the 1 hour prior to providing the saliva sample.

It will typically take 24-72 hours for results to be returned to you via an email. During this time, you may remain on campus for work or classes, permitted you follow all COVID-19 safety protocols, including face coverings, physical distancing, handwashing, etc. 

Idaho State is using PCR for screening. This is the most accurate test available. False positive results are very uncommon. Any positive result is evidence of the presence of COVID-19 virus. Rescreening is of no benefit and will not change isolation recommendations.

If your screening results are positive, you must self-isolate, per CDC guidelines. It is recommended for 10 days after the test date. The ISU contact tracing team will reach out to review where you might have acquired the virus and to make further recommendations. While you await this contact, do not come to campus or have close contact with other members of the campus community. 

Yes. Negative results are just a snapshot in time and do not give an exemption from following the University’s public health guidelines. Furthermore, if your results are negative after your first screening, you will still be required to take a second screening 5-7 days later at our same screening site.

Contractors and affiliates with an ongoing physical presence on campus will be asked to participate in the screening program as coordinated by the University. Campus guests and visitors will not participate in the program. 

After the initial return-to-campus screening, additional random sampling will occur as well as targeted routine screening for various campus populations. This will include on-campus housing residents, student-athletes, and students taking courses that require hands-on instruction.

Participating in the program is mandatory unless there is an approved religious or medical exemption. Employees who wish to opt out of the screening program should discuss with their supervisors whether 100% telework is a possibility for their particular position. Students who wish to opt out of the screening program should contact their advisors to search for classes that meet their needs and are delivered fully online.

No, however you should adhere to precautions while traveling and reference the quarantine flowsheet to determine if you need to quarantine after travel.

All employees and volunteers at the screening location will be wearing face coverings, a face shield, and using gloves. Saliva is self-collected for the non-invasive PCR screen and does not require direct contact with another individual. Screening will be scheduled to allow physical distancing.

The University Health Center and COVID-19 Health Committee will conduct contact tracing for all positive results. Close contacts of those that are positive will be notified. If it is determined that a faculty member or classmates had close contact, they will be notified in accordance with applicable law.

The University Health Center and COVID-19 Health Committee will receive the results. After contact investigation is performed, other individuals such as instructors and close contacts may also be notified if determined necessary by the COVID-19 Health Committee and in accordance with applicable law.

No. Campus visitors and guests will not be participating in the screening program. However, they are expected to follow Idaho State’s established public health guidelines, which includes wearing a face covering, maintaining physical distancing, and frequent hand washing.

Yes. Employees should work with their supervisors to schedule the screening during a time that has a minimal impact on regular duties. 

Employees should work with their supervisor to identify time within their scheduled work hours to schedule the screening.