Gardner-Webb Family,
The University will be providing free, voluntary COVID-19 Rapid Tests, provided by the state of North Carolina, at the end of this week and on Monday of next week for students, faculty and staff. This is in preparation for the Thanksgiving break. We encourage you to consider getting tested to protect yourself, your family and your campus community. According to health authorities, individuals that have tested positive in the past 90 days do not need to get a test at this time.
Students can get their tests on Friday, November 20 and Monday, November 23 from 8:30AM until 12:30PM in two locations on campus; the Football Team Room in the Football Center, and room 258 in the College of Health Sciences. Please enter the College of Health Sciences building through the student entrance. Proof of current student status may be required.
Faculty and staff can get their tests on Friday, November 20 and Monday, November 23 from 1:00PM until 4:00PM in the same two locations on campus; the Football Team Room in the Football Center, and room 258 in the College of Health Sciences. Proof of current employee status may be required.
The tests are self-administered, though certified university staff will be there to assist and record the data. These are BinaxNOW antigen tests. After completion of the test, individuals will be directed to an adjacent area to await the results. Test results are available in approximately 15 minutes. These tests are not fool-proof, and the University cannot guarantee 100% accuracy. The information provided by health authorities indicates that the tests are 95% accurate when administered to symptomatic individuals within 5-7 days of symptom onset. The test is only 70% accurate on asymptomatic individuals.
Persons who receive positive BinaxNOW antigen test results will need to confirm with a second (PCR) test as soon as possible. PCR tests cannot be administered onsite, but persons testing positive will be provided information regarding local health authorities who may be able to administer the PCR test.