Changes in surveillance testing for spring semester

When the campus community returns for the start of the spring 2021 semester, the University of Georgia will once again increase the capacity of its voluntary surveillance testing program and increasingly rely on saliva-based testing.

The Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory has developed a saliva-based test that has proved to be just as reliable as the nasopharyngeal swabs that have been used at the Legion Field surveillance site. In January—as soon as the current supply of nasopharyngeal test kits is exhausted—sites will switch to all saliva-based testing. Accurate results will be provided within 24-72 hours.

From Jan. 4-22, capacity at the Legion Field surveillance testing site and pop-up locations across campus will be expanded to accommodate up to 1,500 tests per day (1,000 per day at Legion Field and 500 at pop-up locations).

These tests are free for individuals with no symptoms and can be scheduled through the COVID-19 Surveillance Testing Portal. Walk-up appointments can usually be accommodated at Legion Field, and pop-up saliva testing does not require pre-registration. Please visit the University Health Center’s website for locations and schedules.