No Friday processing and other reminders for summer semester

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Welcome to Summer Semester!

Summer Locations and Hours Begin May 14 - NO FRIDAY PROCESSING!

May 14 will be the last day for Friday lab processing for the summer. For samples dropped on Fridays going forward, results will be available Monday evening.

If your current sample day is Friday, please edit your registration form to select a new day.

The following residence hall locations are closing for the summer and will not offer kit pick-up or drop- off: Akers, Brody and Case North.

Visit the EDP website to find alternate locations and to view any changes to summer drop days and hours.

Program Updates and Reminders

Whether you're new to EDP or joining us again, we want to provide several updates to help your participation in the program go smoothly.

If you were registered with the program in the spring, your registration will continue for the summer.

New participants will need to take the following steps:

Visit the program registration form to complete your registration and select a preferred day for weekly testing. The day you select will be the day you are required to submit samples each week. If you need to change this day for any reason throughout the semester, simply open your registration form again and select a new day. Once you register, you will begin to receive weekly reminder messages. If you are not yet on campus, you can disregard these reminders until you arrive.
When it's time for your sample, pick up a Spartan Spit Kit, collect your sample, record the sample’s code online, and return it to campus for processing. Visit the many locations on or near campus to find the most convenient spot for you.
View your results (about 36 hours after dropping your sample), by logging in to the Spartan Health Check web portal using your NetID.
Visit the EDP website and FAQ for more information.

Please plan ahead so you receive results in a timely fashion before your class begins. If you drop off your sample before 1 p.m. (Sun. through Thurs.), you should receive results around 9 p.m. the next day.·

Who is mandatory?

All undergraduates living in MSU housing or participating in on-campus activities must participate. Undergraduates studying or working at some off-campus sites may also be required and should clarify with their location leadership.
Graduate medical and professional students are also required to participate. Those colleges (currently Human Medicine, Osteopathic Medicine and Veterinary Medicine) operate under differing schedules, capacities, and needs with regard to student experiences, and students in those colleges should refer to their college-specific points of contact to learn more.

Note: being fully vaccinated does not provide an opt-out for mandatory students.

If your on-campus status has changed or you believe you have been placed on the mandatory list in error, please submit an online status change form.

Gone for the summer?

Volunteers who are leaving campus for the summer or who no longer wish to participate may opt-out of the program by changing the question "I agree to participate..." from Yes to No on the program registration form.

As always, if you are feeling ill or believe you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, please stay home and call the MSU COVID-19 Triage Hotline at 855-958-2678 for assistance.

Don't get rejected - give us your best sample!

There are a number of poor-quality samples dropped each day that are unable to be processed. This is unfortunate because participants must then submit another sample and those who are mandatory are likely to become overdue for testing and unable to attend in-person activities.

If your sample cannot be processed, Spartan Health Check will indicate REJECTED and you'll need to pick up a new kit and submit another sample right away.

Providing a quality sample on the first try:

There are several reasons why your saliva sample could be rejected including discoloration (candy or gum can do this), food pieces in the sample, a broken seal on the tube and more. The top reasons for a rejected sample are low or high volume so please make sure your sample is at the 2 ml mark in the tube.

You should not eat, drink, or smoke/vape for 30 minutes before you provide your sample. If your sample has any color in it, please brush your teeth then wait at least 30 minutes to collect another sample.

Watch the how-to video for more tips!

Only the sample on the left is acceptable - the rest fail!

Stay healthy and safe!

Remember, any form of testing reflects your COVID-19 status at the time your sample was collected. That’s why it’s vital to stay vigilant and continue to practice safe behaviors.

Vaccines are now readily available with many local locations, including some on campus, offering walk-up services. Do your part and take one for the team!

Questions about vaccines? Check out these short videos from MSU experts addressing the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines or this “Ask the Expert” article about the J&J vaccine, specifically.

Learn more on the Together We Will website.

If you have questions about the Early Detection Program, check out the FAQs or email us at SpartanSpit@msu.edu