What you need to know about on‑campus rapid COVID testing at Dal this fall

Regular COVID-19 testing is an important part of stopping the spread of the virus and keeping one another safe. To make access to testing even more convenient for the Dal community, the university has collaborated with Nova Scotia Public Health to launch a self-swab COVID-19 rapid screening program for faculty, staff and students across all four campuses.

There are two ways you can get tested on-campus:

• attending one of our two COVID testing centres 
• or picking up a take-away test kit at one of several campus locations that you can do yourself.
  

Testing can also be done at many locations across the province through the Nova Scotia Health Authority.

Who can get tested

The Dalhousie testing clinics and take-home test kits are available to faculty, students, staff and campus subcontractors. Those being tested CANNOT be:

• Under the age of 16
• symptomatic (cough, or two or more other symptoms)
• required to isolate due to travel or COVID-19 exposures
• required to test due to COVID-19 exposures
• tested COVID-19 positive in the last 90 days

People who do not meet these requirements should seek out testing through Nova Scotia Health.

How does a self-swab test work
 

In a self-swab model, faculty, staff and students will take their own sample.

At our clinics, the process will be instructed and observed by a trained swabber. The swabber will wear mask, gloves and face shield and the participant takes their own sample and puts it into the collection tube. Participants will receive their test results by text message or phone call in about 30-40 minutes. NS Health provides access to a software system that assigns a random code to each test, so confidentiality is maintained. Results are sent automatically from the same software system.

Testing site locations and hours of operation

Halifax campuses

Location: Macdonald Building, University Hall
Days of operation: Monday to Friday
Hours: 12-4 p.m

Truro campus

Location: Dal AC Health Services - Dairy Building
Days of operation: Tuesdays and Thursdays
Hours: 3-4 p.m.

Testing is available by walk-in and, eventually, by appointment. Information on booking appointments will be updated once this service becomes available again.

Take-away test kit pickup

A take-away test kit is a rapid test you can take and complete on your own time.

For take-away test kits, you review the results yourself after about 15 minutes. View instructions [PDF] or watch the video below:

They can be picked up at the following locations:

Take-away test kit pickup

A take-away test kit is a rapid test you can take and complete on your own time. Test kits (limit two per person per week) can be picked up at the following locations:

• Studley campus: 
  • Student Union Building, Information Desk (Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.)
    
  • Macdonald Building, University Hall, second floor (Monday to Friday, 12 to 4 p.m.)
  • Student Health & Wellness Centre, LeMarchant Place, second floor (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
  • Kenneth C. Rowe Management Building, Dean's Office (3rd floor, suite 3050) (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
• Sexton campus:
  
  • Melda Murray Student Centre, Room A109, A/B Building, 1360 Barrington Street (M to F, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.)
• Carleton campus: 
  • Sir Charles Tupper Medical Building, Building Services (aka rooms B101 & B102) (Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.)
• Truro campus
  • Student Success Centre, Dairy Building (Tuesdays and Thursdays. 8:30-9:30 a.m. and 3-4 p.m.)

Volunteers needed

Come help us with on-campus testing! No experience necessary. Fill out your contact info here and you'll receive an email with signup instructions.