UHS no longer offers appointments for PCR testing. Students and employees experiencing symptoms, should test immediately using an at-home antigen test kit.
Antigen testing continues to be offered at no-cost to students and employees during spring semester. The take-home antigen kits provide added convenience because they can be picked up in advance and used when needed.
Most antigen testing provides results within 15 minutes. This type of test is useful for quickly diagnosing infections and containing the spread of disease.
Antigen testing
- Test kit pick-up is on the ground floor of 333 East Campus Mall; hours are:
- Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. – closed for lunch break from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.;
- Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m
Off-Campus Testing Resources
- All Wisconsin households are eligible to place an order every month for one free test kit that contains five rapid antigen COVID-19 tests at SayYesCovidHomeTest.org
- Some private health insurers will also reimburse the cost of purchasing self-tests. For a list of authorized self-tests, visit the Food and Drug Administration’s website.
- For a complete database of community testing locations, please visit the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. If you are experiencing symptoms and need to get tested, you may also contact your healthcare provider.
- Students and employees seeking a PCR test may also check an off-campus testing site or contact a health care provider for PCR testing availability.
Antigen testing – Antigen test kits and masks are available at 333 East Campus Mall.
Spring Testing Overview
UW–Madison continues to provide COVID-19 testing at no cost to UW–Madison students and employees by distributing at-home antigen test kits, N-95 and surgical masks. The kits and masks are available at 333 East Campus Mall.
The take-home antigen kits provide added convenience because they can be picked up in advance and used when needed. Most antigen testing provides results within 15 minutes. This type of test is useful for quickly diagnosing infections and containing the spread of disease.
In addition to campus-provided antigen testing, which we have secured for the use of students and employees, we encourage you to use the growing number of off-campus antigen testing resources, including placing an order every month for one free test kit that contains five rapid antigen COVID-19 tests on the Say Yes! COVID Test website.
When should I take an at-home antigen test?
That depends on:
- If you’re having symptoms of COVID-19
- If you’re a close contact of someone who tested positive for COVID-19
At-home antigen testing
The at-home antigen tests are intended for current UW–Madison students and employees who:
- Are not having symptoms AND are not a close contact of someone with COVID-19, but still want to test for COVID-19.
- Are having symptoms OR are a close contact of someone who has tested positive*.
Read the complete guide to testing
How to obtain an antigen test
Antigen test kits, N95 masks and surgical-grade face masks are available to current students and employees at no cost with a valid Wiscard. Test kits are limited to one per person per calendar week, supplies permitting.
Antigen test kits can be picked up on the ground floor of 333 East Campus Mall; hours are:
- Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed for lunch, noon–1 p.m.
- Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Learn more about antigen tests available in the United States.
How to take the test
You will administer the test yourself, following the instructions in the test kit. You may take the test immediately or keep it to use later.
In keeping with the State of Wisconsin’s COVID-19 reporting practices, you are not required to submit results from self-administered antigen tests to the MyUHS app or website. Currently the state requirement for reporting is a positive PCR test or a positive antigen test administered by a trained individual at a testing site.
Off-campus PCR testing resources
University Health Services is no longer offering PCR testing.
Students and employees who need a PCR test for travel should use off-campus testing resources:
Read the complete guide to testing