Editor's Note: The information published in this story is accurate at the time of publication. Always refer to uab.edu/uabunited for UAB's current guidelines and recommendations relating to COVID-19.
Entry testing and sentinel testing at UAB use a self-administered nostril swab (shown above), not the nasopharyngeal swab.Extensive COVID-19 testing is part of UAB's comprehensive campus entry plan. Any member of the campus community who reports symptoms of COVID-19 or a high-risk exposure to someone with COVID-19 on their daily Healthcheck will be contacted by Employee Health or Student Health for evaluation and testing if necessary.
Employees who do not have COVID-19 symptoms — people who are asymptomatic — may receive COVID-19 testing in one or both of the following ways:
Entry testing
UAB is offering voluntary COVID-19 campus entry testing to asymptomatic faculty and university staff coming to campus in August.
Voluntary:
This testing is optional.
Test method:
Campus entry testing uses a self-administered nostril swab.
Who participates:
University faculty and staff without COVID-19 symptoms who are coming to campus in August and would like to be tested (not required) will receive instructions at a later time on how to access this testing.
Who does not participate:
University faculty and staff who are working remotely will not participate in this campus entry testing. University faculty and staff who are already on campus (prior to August) and who do not have COVID-19 symptoms will not participate in campus entry testing.
Sentinel testing
Throughout the semester, sentinel testing is being conducted each week with a random sample of 2.5% to 5% of staff, faculty and students on campus.
Sentinel testing allows UAB health experts to monitor campus for signs of asymptomatic spread of COVID-19.
Voluntary:
Sentinel testing is optional for employees but participation is highly encouraged.
Test method:
Sentinel testing uses a self-administered nostril swab.
Who participates:
All university faculty and staff working on campus will be included in the randomized list for sentinel testing (including faculty and staff who have been on campus prior to August).
Who does not participate:
University faculty and staff who are working remotely are not included in the randomized list for sentinel testing.
