A student’s perspective of UI’s COVID-19 testing

All University of Idaho students are required to be tested for COVID-19 after arriving back in Moscow. Since I arrived on Aug. 1, I signed up as soon as appointments were available. The process, from the time I arrived at the testing site to the time I left, couldn’t have lasted longer than five minutes. 

On the day of the test, I drove to the Student Recreation Center and parked in the lot closest to the Living Learning Communities, following signs directing me behind the building. Black and yellow banners fluttered in the wind to form a queue, but no one was in line from what I could see. 

I tend to prefer arriving early, especially for health-related appointments, so I walked up to the testing site about fifteen minutes early. This ended up being just fine, as the person directing others into the building ushered me over nonetheless and handed me a small plastic bag with a Vandal-themed mask, a small container of hand sanitizer and a small card with information about face coverings. 

As I entered the building, four people wearing face shields greeted me and scanned the QR code I was emailed when I signed up for testing. They offered me hand sanitizer and directed me towards one of two desks. Testing sign-in was split up by last name, so I went to the proper desk and showed the two people working there my photo ID. They searched through some pre-printed identification stickers on their desk and handed me the proper one. 

It was time to get tested.

I was directed to one of six stations, each staffed with three to four people in more substantial personal protective equipment than the greeters and sign-in staff. I sat down in a chair as they prepared the swab, since I can be queasy when medical procedures are involved. They asked me to tilt my chin up and take off my mask. Once I was ready, I felt the swab slowly go up my nose. 

This was one of the more uncomfortable 15 seconds of my life, but it was not the worst thing I’ve experienced. It wasn’t much worse than diving into a pool the wrong way and feeling the water trickle into my sinuses. I would take being tested for COVID-19 over being tested for strep throat — which involves another ridiculously large swab — any day. 

And just as quickly as the swab went up my nose, it was gone. That was it. The nurses assured me I was done and directed me towards the exit. 

Just like when I accidentally get water up my nose in a pool, I had the urge to blow my nose almost immediately after the swab was removed. My left eye was watering and I felt a bit gross, but by the time I finished driving home, the pain and discomfort was gone. 

Four days later, I have not received my results yet. UI Interim Provost and Executive Vice President Torrey Lawrence said results would be available within 24 hours in the most recent Talks with Torrey. So why didn’t I get my results last week?

UI Director of Communications Jodi Walker said while sample collection has begun, the UI lab is not ready yet. Starting sample collection before the lab was ready allowed Gritman Medical Center and UI personnel to figure out how many people could be tested per hour and how many people were needed to run sample collection. 

The samples collected until the opening of the UI lab will be sent to a private lab and results will be available around a week after sample collection. Once the UI lab opens, results will be available around 24 hours after sample collection. 

I still haven’t gotten my results yet, but it makes me feel a little better knowing it isn’t because the university lab is overwhelmed. 

Lex Miller can be reached at [email protected]