Pooled Testing Requirements

Letter to Students from September 4, 2020

Dear students and campus faculty/staff,

Campus surveillance testing of students to help detect and prevent the potential spread of COVID-19, first announced August 26, has commenced. The Health and Counseling Office will test a select sample of the Geneseo student population weekly, concentrating on student groups at potentially higher risk of infection and transmission, such as those who live together in residence halls or apartments, athletic teams, Greek organizations, clubs, and other student organizations.

The Health and Counseling Office will notify students at least two days in advance. Students who are notified of their selection for testing must participate to ensure their continued eligibility to engage in any on-campus activities, including instruction and residential living. All efforts will be made to accommodate student schedules.

Early in the summer, the College ordered a rapid, point of care testing device to enable us to perform tests of students on campus. The Health and Counseling Office is using that system to perform rapid antigen testing via nasal swab for routine surveillance. Students can expect to receive notification of their results within 24 hours via their electronic health record.

The College will continue to conduct point of care testing over the coming days, and expects to shift to a collaboration with SUNY Upstate Medical University in a process that uses pooled testing of saliva-based samples.

For the latest information on screening, testing, and surveillance, please visit COVID-19 Updates & Resources, which is updated frequently.

Thank you,

Dr. Steven Radi
Medical Director

Letter to Students from September 17, 2020

Students, Faculty, and Staff,

As you know, we began surveillance testing of students earlier this month. So far, we have conducted nearly 120 tests and all have been negative. To increase the percentage of students we are able to test weekly, which will help continue to mitigate COVID-19 infection risk, we are transitioning to pooled saliva testing with SUNY Upstate Medical University next week. We will test approximately 500 students per week through this method.

Students will be selected at random to participate in the pooled testing, which involves saliva-based samples. Students who are selected for testing are required to complete the process in order to remain eligible to participate in any on-campus activities, including attending in-person classes and residential living. All efforts will be made to accommodate student schedules.

SUNY and UUP announced this week the establishment of an agreement regarding mandatory COVID-19 testing for UUP-represented employees. The College is working to incorporate testing protocols, using the Upstate methodology for those individuals, information about which is forthcoming.

The pooled testing will be conducted in the MacVIttie College Union Ballroom.

For the latest information on screening, testing, and surveillance, please visit COVID-19 Updates & Resources, which is updated frequently.

Thank you,

Steven A. Radi, M.D.
Medical Director