University of Missouri

How Do I Get Tested for COVID-19?

We know this is an unsettling time and you might have a lot of questions about what to do if you think you have been or were exposed to COVID-19. Our goal is to help you understand the process for testing at Mizzou.

You need to quarantine/isolate immediately if:

  • You are experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19.
  • You are waiting to get tested.
  • You are awaiting your test results.
  • One of your roommates tested positive for COVID-19.
  • You are a close contact of a COVID-19 positive person (been within 6 feet of a COVID-19 positive person for 15 minutes or more, with or without a face covering).
  • If you have tested positive for COVID-19.

If you have severe symptoms, including difficulty breathing, call 911 or the University Hospital Emergency Department 573-882-4141). Tell the 911 dispatcher or the emergency department that you may have COVID-19 so they can prepare.

How do I get an order for a test?

Referrals are required to make sure patients are getting tested at the best time to catch evidence of the virus. And it only takes a phone call to do so. We have the resources to make sure that anyone who needs a test can get one quickly.

University employees should contact their health provider by phone.

All those seeking testing should have their health insurance information available. If you don’t have insurance, there is no charge.

If  students encounter any problems getting a referral or getting a test, please send an email to covidquestions@missouri.edu, use “Covid Test” in the subject line and describe the issue. You will be contacted by a member of the Care Team.

  • First option: Call MU Health Care’s free nurse assessment line at 573-884-0948.
  • Second option: Call the Student Health Center at 573-882-7481
    • Hours:

Or do a video visit at one of the links below. (These visits may cost up to $59, depending on insurance coverage.)

  • Mizzou Quick Care
    • Hours:
      • 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Friday
      • 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

Where do I go for testing?
Once you have a provider’s order to be tested, you can go to one of the following locations:

First option: On-campus walk-up (closest location and shortest line):

  • Parking Garage 7 (This garage is just south of the Student Health Center on the corner Hospital Drive and Monk Drive. The testing facility is located on the west side of the parking structure.)
    • Hours:
      • 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday–Friday
      • 1–3:30 p.m. Saturday

Map to the walk-up testing site

Second option: Drive-through

  • Mizzou North drive-thru testing site, 115 Business Loop 70 W
    • Hours:
      • 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. Monday-Friday
      • 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. Saturday
      • Closed Sundays

 

How will I be notified of results?
The test results notification process differs based on your results. Patients will be notified of their test result as soon as it is processed, typically within 48 hours, via a message in the HEALTHConnect portal. If you don’t have a HEALTHConnect account, you can sign up here.

  • Positive results: Documentation of your positive result will be available through the HEALTHConnect portal. A staff member also will call with results.
  • Negative results: Documentation of your negative result will be available only through the HEALTHConnect portal.

How much does the test cost?

The charge for a COVID-19 lab test is $150. If you have insurance, that company will be billed. At this time, there is no co-pay or co-insurance. If your insurance denies the claim, you will receive a bill. If you do not have insurance, there is no charge.

What should I do while awaiting my results?

Stay in your residence hall or your off-campus apartment. If you live with roommates, they’ll need to isolate with you while you wait for the test results. If you test positive, your roommates will also need to be tested following the above procedures. You can find resources to help you at Show Me Renewal.

Rest and monitor your symptoms. It is important that you stay at home and restrict all activities that put you in contact with others, unless you are seeking medical care. If you test positive, you are required to self-report your positive diagnosis, which will trigger a communication from a Care Team member. A case investigator will also be reaching out to complete the health investigation, discuss a tentative isolation release date, and answer any questions you have. Your case investigator or a member of the Care Team will release you from isolation, when the time comes.

When should I get tested if I have been exposed to a person diagnosed with COVID-19?
People who have been directly exposed to someone with COVID-19 should quarantine and be tested if directed by a contact tracer or if they start showing symptoms. The current recommendation for testing after exposure is to wait seven to nine days if you have no symptoms. Testing too soon after exposure can provide a false negative result.

The optimal time to get tested for COVID-19 is between seven and nine days after the last known date of exposure to a person with the disease.

Will any student who needs a test be provided one?
Yes, as long as they have an order from a health care provider.

Why aren't you testing everyone?
You can find more information on our testing protocols on the Show Me Renewal website.