Resources

Back to the top

Back to the top

There are three basic types of COVID-19 testing: molecular, antigen and antibody testing. These tests are not interchangeable.

• Molecular (also known PCR, RT-PCR, genetic) testing is a diagnostic test that detects genetic material of the virus and can continue detecting it for weeks to months following an initial infection. UofL's testing vendor, Bluewater Lab, conducts molecular testing for all university members who are asymptomatic (not experiencing symptoms of COVID-19).
   
• Antigen testing is a diagnostic test that determines if viral coat proteins are present, which is associated with an active coronavirus infection. Antigen testing will only confirm you are positive for COVID-19 if you are currently shedding the virus.  Campus Health Services provides antigen testing to rapidly test symptomatic university members. After an initial infection, antigen testing will only remain positive for about a week.
   
• Antibody testing shows if you’ve been infected in the past. Campus Health Services sends antibody testing to their reference lab on a case-by-case basis.

It is important to note you can test positive by one type of testing (such as molecular) and test negative by another type (such as antigen). Discrepancies between test results do not mean your test was performed incorrectly or another test is more accurate. If you have previously had COVID-19, you can continue shedding very low levels of coronavirus genetic material which can be detected through molecular testing for months following your initial infection's active period. This does not mean that you are infectious or capable of transmitting the virus. Per the CDC, these low levels of detectable genetic material have not been associated with the production of functional virus; therefore, those individuals are not considered infectious. An antigen test will only confirm you are positive for COVID-19 if you are currently shedding the virus. After contracting COVID-19, an antigen test will not remain positive for months the way a molecular test will.

Take a look at this FDA testing guide to learn more about the three different forms of basic COVID-19 testing. For more details on UofL's testing program, read the Testing and Tracing FAQs.

Back to the top

Get Vaccinated

Campus Health Services continues to offer COVID vaccination at the Health Centers or in the Student Activity Centers. Having an appointment greatly expedites the process, so we STRONGLY urge you to do so. See below for quick and easy instructions to make an appointment.   

Remember, the COVID-19 vaccines available in the U.S. are safe and effective. They are one of our greatest tools for fighting the pandemic. COVID-19 vaccination is not required, but it is strongly encouraged in order to keep our campus safe and prevent the spread of COVID-19. For more details on the vaccine, read UofL Health's Vaccine FAQ document and the university's COVID-19 Vaccine FAQs.  If you have additional questions regarding COVID vaccines, please call Campus Health Services at 852-6479.   

For Instructions on how to schedule a COVID vaccine appointment: 

1. Go to https://louisvilleportal.pointnclick.com
2. Click the “Student, Staff and Faculty” button at the top of the page.
3. Microsoft login screen will open.  Sign using your ULINK ID@louisville.edu and associated password
4. “Stay Signed In” screen will appear and click No.
5. Confirm your identity by entering your date of birth and click proceed.
6. You should now be on the main page of the Campus Health Patient Portal.
7. To schedule an appointment, click on View, Check-in or Book an Appointment.
8. Select the Covid Vaccine and THEN select which specific vaccine you need.  Click Continue
9. Enter a Callback number
10. Confirm, update or provide Race/Ethnicity information required for epidemiological reporting and click CONTINUE
11. Enter or update and confirm your address for epidemiological reporting and click CONTINUE
12. Sign the Consent form (Note: you only need to answer questions regarding the specific vaccine you are going to receive.   Scroll to the bottom of the screen to complete your signature)
13. Select Appointment date and vaccination location and then click SEARCH APPOINTMENTS. 
14. Select your desired appointment time and click CONTINUE.  
15. Click CONFIRM if your appointment date, time and location are correct.     
16. SAVE A COPY OF YOUR QR CODE to use at check-in by printing the document or taking a screenshot with your phone. 
17. ALL DONE!!!!

Off-campus vaccination locations
If you prefer to get vaccinated off campus, take advantage of one of these resources to find a vaccine location near you:

• Text your zip code to 4-3-8-8-2-9 and you'll receive a quick text back with vaccine locations near you.
• Find COVID-19 vaccine locations 
• Use the CDC vaccine finder

Lost vaccination cards

If you've lost your vaccination card, there are resources you can use to request a replacement card.

For those vaccinated at Campus Health, please call 852-6480 and as to speak to one of the staff regarding a replacement immunization card. 

For those who received one or both vaccines at UofL Health:
Please go to https://uoflhealth.org/coronavirus/requesting-a-replacement-covid-19-vaccination-record-card/  for instructions on how to request copies of your immunizations.  

For those who received one or both vaccines from another location:
If you did not receive both vaccines from UofL Health, you can call the LouHealth hotline at 502-912-8598. You will be asked to complete a release request form. Once that form is submitted, you can have your vaccine record emailed to you via an encrypted email, pick it up at the health department or have it mailed to you.

Back to the top

Contact Tracing

Despite the university's best efforts to institute policies and protocols for preventing the spread of the virus, we know that positive cases will inevitably arise on campus. When those cases happen, Campus Health and their team of contact tracers will intervene quickly.  UofL's contract tracing team of dedicated university health professionals will continue to trace, notify and properly advise any individuals who may have been exposed to a positive COVID-19 case or who have contracted COVID.  

All positive results from the Campus Health Centers are automatically forwarded to the Contact Tracing Team for investigation.  The Tracing Team will determine who had significant contact with the case.  Additional positive cases may be reported by individuals who tested positive outside of the University’s testing programs, home tests or by the Health Department.   

Exposures, Quarantine and Isolation Protocols

Exposures

Exposure is defined by the CDC as being less than 6 feet away from an infected person for a total of 15 minutes or more, regardless of masking or vaccination status. If you believe you have been exposed you may continue to come to campus, mask in indoor public spaces and get tested should develop any symptoms of COVID.   

Quarantine (Discontinued 8/11/2022 per CDC)

Effective August 11, 2022, the CDC no longer recommends that individuals exposed to COVID quarantine due to the high natural immunity and/or vaccination rates. If you are exposed please mask when you are in indoor public spaces and monitor for symptoms. If you develop symptoms, please isolate and contact campus health for assistance in getting tested. 

Isolation

Isolation refers to the actions taken when you have been infected with the virus, even if you don’t have symptoms.

If you test positive, please notify Contact Tracing via email at  tracing@louisville.edu  or call 852-2955 for assistance. They can help with housing and documentation for academic purposes. Contact tracing will only provide COVID isolation documentation effective 8/11/2022.  

If you test positive you will need to: 

• Isolate for a minimum of 5 days.  If you without a fever x 24 hours on day 5 and you were always asymptomatic or your symptoms have completely resolved, you may return to work or school so long as you wear a tight fitting mask on days 6-10 while in public spaces.  At test is not required to return to school or work.   
• Please contact Contact Tracing at 852-2955 or via email at tracing@louisville.edu if you had any questions.      

University members are not required to show proof of a negative test in order to return to campus. Students who are residents at the university should review the Self-Isolation for Residents FAQs.

For more details, review the Quarantine, Symptoms & Sickness FAQs. 

Review this helpful visual aid to better understand the protocols for exposure.

Back to the top

Domestic and international travel

Health recommendations and resources

Create a support and resiliency plan. Make plans for regular check-ins with your friends, family and your support networks. If you're an employee, touch base with your supervisor and co-workers. Be honest about how you are doing. Take advantage of the following university and community resources:

• UofL COVID-19 resources for students: Counseling Center, Dean of Students Office, Student Success Center, COVID-19 & Student Support Resource Guide
• UofL COVID-19 resources for employees: SHARE, Employee Assistance Program
• Community COVID-19 resources: Team Kentucky COVID-19 Resources 

Back to the top