ISU sticks to current COVID-19 testing process

Testing for COVID-19 at ISU has undergone multiple options in deciding what would be best as the pandemic progresses.

ISU originally planned to use the University of Illinois Urban-Champaign saliva-based COVID-19 test for this semester. But since the saliva-based test was not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration by the start of spring semester, ISU had to look at different testing options to fit the need of the university.

For this semester, ISU began using the COVID-19 antigen test for primary on-campus testing method which allows for increased testing capacity, quick results, and the ability to quickly move positive students into isolation and begin contact tracing.

Director of Media Relations Eric Jome explained the antigen test ISU is using is affordable and can be processed on campus with same-day results.

“[The antigen test] is affordable and can be processed here on campus with results available within 30 minutes when deemed necessary by Student Health Services,” Jome said.  

ISU will still use the PCR test if an individual is symptomatic or if there is high clinical suspicion that an individual has COVID-19. The PCR test ISU uses takes about a day for results to be known.

On March 1, the FDA authorized emergency use of UIUC’s saliva-based COVID-19 testing.

“The UIUC SHIELD test is a PCR test, a fast PCR test,” Baur said. “It’s more of the gold standard for detecting the virus so it detects the genetic material and so it can detect it sooner and basically you can have some more confidence in your results because it’s a more accurate test.”

Since the approval came so late in the semester, ISU decided to not use the saliva-based test for the spring semester. Pertaining to the future, ISU’s head of testing and chemistry professor John Baur hasn’t put a stop to potentially using the UIUC saliva-based test or another form of testing that could be beneficial.

“Because we are already half-way through the semester, ISU will not be implementing the saliva-based testing procedures on campus this semester,” Jome said. “However, the University is keeping the option open for using the test on campus in the future.”

ISU’s planned to use a SHEILD on campus for the saliva-based test and while the university is not using the saliva-based test, Jome reiterated that the lab is still being used.

The lab is being used to test for entities in Central Illinois and other areas around the state, moving their practices onward to campus as more students transition back to in-person courses. 

“Part of having classes in-person [and] getting back to normal [is] making sure the virus is not being transmitted or any other spread as well…obviously a strong testing program is important to make sure that it’s not spreading,” said Baur. 

Baur expressed truth on the matter that as of March 11 President Joe Biden is reaching to have all adults be eligible for vaccinations come May 1.

“I think fall is still open…that decision is probably made a little bit later when we know what the testing needs are going to be, if almost everybody’s vaccinated there’s probably not a need for as high of testing.”

“The decision not to use the saliva-based SHIELD Illinois test at ISU at this time does not impact the operation of the SHIELD Illinois lab,” Jome said.

While numbers of people are being tested Baur expressed unclarity of what the future holds while setting up the vaccine availability.

“We’re still doing our part to make sure the testing is robust and the community is being protected,” Baur said.