COVID-19 Testing

Please note that the information on this page is updated as new information is available, and as CDC, state and local public health guidance changes. For the latest information, please check back regularly.

Required testing for unvaccinated students and employees

Students and employees who are unvaccinated or who have not yet uploaded their proof of vaccination will be required to submit a COVID-19 test each week. PCR or Antigen tests will be accepted.

REMEMBER: If you get tested at an App State testing clinic, your test results will be automatically provided to the university. You do not need to submit these results.

When should I get a COVID-19 test?

Do you have symptoms of COVID-19? Are you a close contact of someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19?

• CDC recommends that anyone who has symptoms of or has been exposed to COVID-19 should get tested as soon as possible, regardless of vaccination status.
• CDC defines close contacts as individuals who have been within six feet of an active case of COVID-19 for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more within a 24-hour period.
• CDC’s Coronavirus Self-Checker helps you check your symptoms online and, based on your answers, provides recommended actions and resources. 

Where can I get a COVID-19 test?

• App State will offer on-campus COVID-19 testing events each Wednesday for students and employees who would like a COVID-19 test for any reason. Times and locations may vary and will be posted above.
• Students who have symptoms can get a COVID-19 test at Student Health Service. Make an appointment via your MedPortal account or call 828-262-3100.
• AppHealthCare’s drive-thru COVID-19 testing clinics provide testing to anyone who would like a COVID-19 test weekdays from 8:30 - 10 a.m. Appointments are not required. Visit AppHealthCare’s COVID-19 Testing FAQs page for information on how soon you will get your results, how you will be notified of your test results, and more.
• Visit NCDHHS’ Find My Testing Place page to find no-cost community testing events or testing sites in North Carolina.

In the event of a positive COVID-19 test

If you test positive for COVID-19 follow the instructions below:

• Stay home and reduce in-person contact with others in your household to the greatest extent possible.
• Report your postive test result to the university here.
• Monitor your symptoms and follow CDC guidelines for isolation. If you become concerned about your symptoms, contact your health care provider.
• App State students who are concerned about symptoms they might be experiencing can contact Student Health Service at 828-262-3100; faculty and staff can contact AppHealthCare at 828-264-4995.

What is the difference between a PCR and antigen test?

PCR (molecular) and antigen (rapid) tests are both used to diagnose whether someone is currently infected with COVID-19. According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), each test looks for something different to determine if someone is infected: a PCR test looks for the virus’s genetic material, while an antigen test looks for specific proteins on the surface of the virus. PCR tests are processed in a laboratory, which can take a few days; antigen tests are often processed at the point of care, such as in a health care provider’s office, in about 15 minutes.

Read NCDHHS guidance on antigen testing released Dec. 10, 2020.