Symptomatic COVID-19 Testing
About
Symptomatic COVID-19 testing is for those who are not feeling completely healthy and are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, even if the symptoms are mild.
If you have any of the symptoms listed below, you should be tested for COVID-19.
Appointments
Students, make an appointment to see a provider at UHS, who will order the COVID-19 test as part of your evaluation. This appointment can be done by telehealth or in-person. Alternatively, you can use a self-test kit, which is available at area pharmacies and retailers. Also, find additional COVID-19 testing locations at testinglocator.cdc.gov/search. View appointment information below.
Faculty and staff, make an appointment to be tested through your healthcare provider or UT Health Austin. Alternatively, you can use a self-test kit, which is available at area pharmacies and retailers. Also, find additional COVID-19 testing locations at testinglocator.cdc.gov/search.
COVID-19 Symptoms
- Fever/chills
- Muscle or body aches
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Cough
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
Symptomatic Testing Resources for Students
Scheduling Your Appointment
Call 512-471-4955
OR
Make your appointment in the MyUHS portal.
- Log in then click on Check-In or Schedule an Appointment
- Schedule an Appointment
- Student Appointment at UHS
- I want to schedule a COVID-19 test/evaluation for COVID-19 concern.
- Continue
- Choose
- I have symptoms of COVID-19 and want to schedule a telehealth appointment with a UHS provider for both evaluation and testing.
If you need help with online scheduling, call us at 512-471-4955.
Location and Hours of Operation
Student Services Building
100 West Dean Keeton Street
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Test Used to Determine Current Infection
UHS uses the BINAXNOW Antigen test or the RT-PCR test, both of which are anterior nasal swabs. These take test samples from the front of the nose, inside the nostrils. Other collection methods, such as nasopharyngeal and salivary, may substitute for anterior nasal as dictated by supply chain or other factors.
Timing to Receive Results
Results for BINAXNOW Antigen tests will be available within one hour.
RT-PCR tests are sent out to an external reference laboratory (CPL) for processing. Results will be available within 24-48 hours during weekdays.
On the Day of Your Appointment/Appointment Arrival
- Wear a face covering.
- If you are driving to campus, park your car in or near the 27th Street Garage (TSG). See information about parking validation.
- Arrive as close to your appointment time as possible to prevent lines.
- Review your pre-appointment email to reference the clinic location.
- Social distance if there is a line.
Costs and Payment
If you are insured
Most insurance plans fully cover the cost of clinical symptomatic COVID-19 testing. There is no out-of-pocket cost to you for testing – however UHS is still required to file a claim to your health plan. Before your appointment, please upload your insurance information to your MyUHS portal.
- Log in to the MyUHS portal
- Click on “Messages”, then click “New Message” and select “I want to submit my insurance information.” Complete all the requested information/fields including primary subscriber information. This step is required.
- Then, click on Insurance Card to upload your insurance card (front and back).
If you are uninsured
UHS does not subsidize the cost of the COVID-19 testing. For questions, contact the UHS Billing and Insurance Office at 512-475-8394 or email healthyhorns_billing@utlists.utexas.edu.
Needs for Travel
Obtain copies of the UHS Clinical Laboratory licenses if needed for your travel clearance.
Obtain a copy of Clinical Pathology Laboratories (CPL) CLIA license if your PCR test was performed by CPL.
COVID Recovery Attestation Letter stating that you have recovered from COVID-19 infection within the last 90 days to be used instead of a negative test for some travel requirements. Schedule an appointment with a UHS provider to obtain this letter.
For students, faculty and staff - what do the results of this COVID-19 test mean?
| POSITIVE
|
NEGATIVE
|
|
Virus was detected in the test, consistent with current or recent virus infection. The result is accurate only for the time at which the swab was done. A positive test does not predict whether you will develop symptom or how severe they could be. You should stay home and self-isolate, even if you do not have symptoms, and monitor yourself for symptoms that may require hospitalization.
Find self-isolation guidelines under “Symptoms” in this chart
|
A negative test result means that virus particles were not present in the specimen in sufficient quantities to be detected. However, a negative result does not exclude the possibility of COVID-19 infection. If you have been exposed to COVID-19 or you currently have symptoms, regardless of your test result, you should stay home and continue to self-quarantine or self-isolate as described in the link below.
Find guidelines for self-quarantine under “Exposure” and self-isolation under “Symptoms” in this chart.
|
| POSITIVE
|
|
Virus was detected in the test, consistent with current or recent virus infection. The result is accurate only for the time at which the swab was done. A positive test does not predict whether you will develop symptoms or how severe they could be. You should stay home and self-isolate, even if you do not have symptoms, and monitor yourself for symptoms that may require hospitalization.
Find self-isolation guidelines under “Symptoms” in this chart
|
| NEGATIVE
|
|
A negative test result means that virus particles were not present in the specimen in sufficient quantities to be detected. However, a negative result does not exclude the possibility of COVID-19 infection. If you have been exposed to COVID-19 or you currently have symptoms, regardless of your test result, you should stay home and continue to self-quarantine or self-isolate as described in the link below.
Find guidelines for self-quarantine under “Exposure” and self-isolation under “Symptoms” in this chart. |
Regardless of your test result, your healthcare provider will provide additional instructions as they apply to your circumstances.
COVID-19 Antibody Testing to Determine Past Infection (Blood Test) for Students
This test determines whether a person has antibodies to COVID-19. Antibodies indicate that a person may have had a past COVID-19 infection. It is unclear whether the presence of COVID-19 antibodies provides protection (immunity) against reinfection. If they do provide immunity, it is unclear how long immunity lasts.
The UHS charge is $53 for the COVID-19 antibody test (blood test), also called a serology test. The university does not subsidize charges for antibody testing. Call the UHS Billing and Insurance Office at 512-475-8394 or email healthyhorns_billing@utlists.utexas.edu if you have any additional billing questions.
Students interested in antibody testing can schedule an appointment with a UHS provider by calling either of the following from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays:
- UHS Appointment Line – 512-471-4955
- UHS Nurse Advice Line – 512-475-6877
What do the results of this test mean?
| POSITIVE
|
NEGATIVE
|
|
You have antibodies that most likely resulted from being infected with COVID-19 or, possibly, a related coronavirus. It is unclear at this time whether you are protected from (immune to) getting infected with COVID-19 again. If you are immune, the length of immunity is unknown. The level of reassurance provided by a positive antibody test remains unclear. Therefore, you should follow recommended protective measures as if you could become infected and infect others. See this document that contains information on how to protect yourself.
|
You probably have not had a previous COVID-19 infection. A negative antibody test does not rule out current infection. It takes one to three weeks (or longer) after being infected with COVID-19 for antibodies to develop. Therefore, you could have an early COVID-19 infection and be able to spread the virus to others and have a negative antibody test. If you have symptoms and meet other criteria for testing, you will need a nasal swab test to determine current infection. |
| POSITIVE
|
|
You have antibodies that most likely resulted from being infected with COVID-19 or, possibly, a related coronavirus. It is unclear at this time whether you are protected from (immune to) getting infected with COVID-19 again. If you are immune, the length of immunity is unknown. The level of reassurance provided by a positive antibody test remains unclear. Therefore, you should follow recommended protective measures as if you could become infected and infect others. See this document that contains information on how to protect yourself.
|
| NEGATIVE
|
|
You probably have not had a previous COVID-19 infection. A negative antibody test does not rule out current infection. It takes one to three weeks (or longer) after being infected with COVID-19 for antibodies to develop. Therefore, you could have an early COVID-19 infection and be able to spread the virus to others and have a negative antibody test. If you have symptoms and meet other criteria for testing, you will need a nasal swab test to determine current infection. |
Regardless of your test result, your healthcare provider will provide additional instructions as they apply to your circumstances.
