Viral Testing as Part of Campus Reopening

About Viral Testing

To protect the health and safety of the Harvard community HUHS will be conducting viral testing for SARS-CoV-2 through two special HUHS facilities in Allston and Longwood.

To be tested at one of these testing sites you must meet all of the following requirements:

Asymptomatic
Authorized to be on campus for more than four hours per week
A current student, current employee, or other HarvardKey holder with an active role at the University
18 years of age or older

Harvard University Health Services will administer the test at no cost to the individual. Find additional information on COVID-19 testing.

Baseline viral testing:
If you are authorized to be on campus for more than four hours per week you are asked to take a baseline viral test. The test should be taken as soon as possible, ideally within 2-3 days prior to or after the date of return to campus, but no later than two weeks after arrival. We encourage any essential worker who has not received a baseline test to schedule one as soon as possible.

Recurring viral testing (for people without symptoms):
We welcome and encourage all essential workers, faculty, academic personnel, staff, and students with a regular campus presence to get repeat tests on a weekly basis. As we move to opening up our campus more widely, repeat testing will become increasingly important. Public health experts agree that one-time baseline testing is insufficient to maintain the safety of the community. Plans are underway for unobserved, self-collected testing. When more details are available, we will update this page on the new process as well as include revised testing frequencies for some subpopulations.

How to Schedule an Appointment

Only those individuals who are authorized to be on campus should schedule a viral testing appointment.

To schedule a viral testing appointment, you need to go to our COVID-19 Testing Registration Form.

On the testing registration form, please enter your personal demographic information. You will then be taken to the Harvard Training Portal to select a date/time and will receive an email notification with calendar invite for your appointment. Please note that when on the training portal you will need to click the drop-down arrow to see the times available.

On Testing Day

The following is important information to remember on testing day:

Please bring your Harvard ID or an ID that indicates your Harvard affiliation. If your Harvard ID does not have a photo, also bring a government-issued photo ID (e.g., driver’s license or passport).
Wear a face-covering/mask.
Please limit the personal items you bring into the testing site. You will need both hands for testing and there are no places to put down large items.

Testing Locations

There are two testing locations. Testing is not available every day. Please note the location and date when you sign up (you will receive an email confirmation). Both sites are ADA accessible and can be reached by foot, bike, car, or public transit.

Harvard Stadium
Address: 79 N Harvard St, Allston, MA 02134
Directions: Enter from North Harvard Street at Gate 8. If you are driving, please park in the lot and walk to the testing area.
New Research Building, Longwood Medical Area
Address: 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115
Directions: Enter through the main entrance. Testing is on the ground level atrium. Parking is not available.
Area Map: https://hms.harvard.edu/about-hms/contact-hms/harvard-longwood-campus-maps-directions

Upon arrival at the testing site you should:

Proceed to the check-in area and you will be asked to provide your name, date of birth, and Harvard ID (with picture). If you do not have a photo ID please bring a government-issued photo ID.
You will be given a testing kit and should follow directions to the testing area.
You will swab the inside of both nostrils and place your swab into a test tube. An HUHS medical staff member will observe and guide you through the process.
The nasal swab may be uncomfortable as you may experience pressure or irritation of the lining of your nose. This may result in watery eyes, sneezing, or (rarely) a bloody nose.
Social distancing will be maintained throughout the process.
There is no charge to you for this test.

Testing Results

After completing your test, you will receive an email from the Broad Institute at the email address you provided on the testing registration form within 2 days. You will receive instructions to log into the Broad’s secure system to see your results.

If you test positive, a medical professional from HUHS will contact you and discuss next steps. You will be required to remain in isolation for at least 14 days. An HUHS trained, contact tracer will also contact you to provide more information and ask questions about recent, close contacts. As required by state law, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health will also be notified of any positive test result.

If you test negative, it is very likely you do not have the virus at this time. You will need to continue to practice social distancing, wear a mask, and follow any applicable federal, state, or local orders related to COVID-19. You will also be expected to adhere to any University policy or process to protect the health and safety of our community. On days you are coming to campus, you will be expected to use Crimson Clear to obtain clearance to enter facilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

I booked my appointment, but I’m not feeling well. what should I do?

If you are not feeling well, please do not come to the testing site or come to campus. Please contact HUHS at (617) 495-5711 and follow the prompts for the COVID line (press * key). A medical professional will discuss your symptoms with you and provide next steps.

I’m trying to retrieve my testing results from the Broad Institute and am receiving a message about my zip code. What should I do?

There was an initial issue with zip codes not matching with the Broad. This has been resolved, please try again. If you continue to experience this issue, please contact HUHS at HealthServices@huhs.harvard.edu and we will work with you to resolve.

What if someone needs help in another language?

Please contact HUHS at (617) 495-5711 and follow the prompts for the COVID line (press * key).

I am a Manager. How do I see who on my team has been viral tested?

Go to the Harvard Training Portal and run a report for COVID Testing. See instructions on how to run this report.

What if I have other questions?

Please contact HUHS at (617) 495-5711 and follow the prompts for the COVID line (press * key). Check back here as well, as we will be updating this area with additional information as new questions arise.