COVID-19 Testing

TCU COVID-19 Testing Procedures 

TCU testing protocols follow the latest CDC recommendations for testing for institutions of higher education. Currently, the CDC recommends testing only symptomatic students, staff, and faculty or those who were recently exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This testing protocol works in conjunction with timely contact tracing and infection prevention measures. 

Student Testing Process 

The Brown Lupton Health Center will test those students who: 

1. Display symptoms consistent with COVID-19; and, 
2. Asymptomatic students with recent known suspected exposure to SARS-CoV-2 to control transmission. 

The clinic runs viral tests from four different platforms with results generally within an hour. Students may arrange for testing by calling the Health Center at 817-257-7940 during normal business hours to arrange an appointment time and instructions on clinic entry procedures. TCU has partnered with the University Urgent Care Center at 3107 Greene Ave. to provide testing after hours. University Urgent Care will share medical findings with the TCU Health Center (assuming that the proper permission was granted). 

The Health Center medical providers will instruct students who test positive for COVID-19 to begin immediate isolation procedures including working with a Contact Tracer to identify close contacts. Close contacts will be contacted by the contact tracing team and instructed to begin quarantine and encouraged to get tested within 3-5 days of the exposure. 

TCU asks that all community members report positive COVID-19 tests via the COVID-19 Report Line at 817-257-2684 (COVI). This report will start the contact tracing and other services for students. 

  

Faculty/Staff Testing Process 

Faculty and staff who display symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or were recently exposed to SARS- CoV-2 should seek a viral test from an off-campus health provider/testing facility. The University Urgent Care at 3107 Greene Ave. is prepared to test TCU Faculty and Staff (at no out-of-pocket expenses for those with commercial health insurance) for convenience or if the faculty or staff member does not have a regular health care provider. 

TCU asks that all community members report positive COVID-19 tests via the COVID-19 Report Line at 817-257-2684 (COVI). This report will start the contact tracing and other services for faculty and staff. 

Faculty or staff who test positive for COVID-19 should remove themselves from campus immediately and begin the isolation process. 

  

Antibody Testing 

The TCU Health Center can test for COVID-19 antibodies using an off-campus laboratory. Antibody testing requires a blood sample. Currently, there is no public health reason to test for COVID-19 antibodies. 

  

Entry Testing and Broader Group Testing 

The CDC presently does not recommend COVID-19 testing of all students, faculty, or staff returning to campus (entry testing). Further, the American College Health Association states that “screening large numbers (thousands) of students will likely produce no substantial public health benefit…”.  Viral testing is a snapshot of a person’s viral load on a particular day, one-time testing of an entire population is not a useful public health tool. 

Instead, TCU will, in consultation with the Tarrant County Public health officials, engage in targeted broader testing of a particular group or building that shows an increase in symptomatic members or occupants. These broader testing strategies can be used when density is such that accurately identifying close contacts of a COVID-19 positive patient is not possible or when that group or building is identified as a hot-spot. 

 

For more information about COVID-19 please visit https://www.tcu.edu/coronavirus/

TCU COVID-19 Self Reporting Hotline: 817-257-2684 (COVI)