Testing
Free COVID-19 testing is available for GW community members.
The university has established a CLIA-certified public health laboratory to support a large-scale, in-house testing program. In-house testing allows for the earliest possible identification and containment of all infected persons, including asymptomatic infections.
- Asymptomatic testing is optional for GW students, faculty, staff and postdocs.
- Symptomatic testing is available for those who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or who have been exposed to a positive COVID-19 case.
- All tests for students, faculty and staff conducted by the public health laboratory are free of charge.
- The Student Health Center (CHC) serves as the main health care resource for students. GW Occupational Health provides support for the ongoing health and safety of GW faculty, staff and postdocs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jump to a topic:
COVID-19 Tests
Asymptomatic COVID-19 PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests will be self-collected. Self-collected testing reduces the amount of personal protective equipment (PPE) required by providers and reduces possible exposure between workers and test takers.
Upon your arrival at the test site, you will receive a kit and instructions. Additional information is available through a step-by-step guide and videos (in English and with Spanish subtitles).
Provider-collected tests are conducted for symptomatic testing.
Scheduling a Test
GW community members can make an appointment for testing through the medical portal.
When you make an appointment, you will be asked if you are a student or an employee at the university. NOTE: if you are both a student and an employee, select your primary affiliation. Then select either an asymptomatic (no symptoms) or sick (symptomatic) test. At this time, individuals with symptoms can only be tested on the Foggy Bottom Campus. A portal instruction document (PDF) is available if needed.
When registering, ensure that your mobile phone number is current, update your mobile phone carrier and activate text messaging to receive your test results, as well as any updates and reminders.
On the day of your test, please bring:
- The confirmation QR code that you receive after you have made an appointment, downloaded to your phone or printed on a piece of paper.
- A photo ID (GWorld card, driver’s license or passport).
Testing Locations and Hours
Testing is available at most of GW's campuses and centers. However, only the Foggy Bottom Campus will provide testing at the Student Health Center for persons who have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or persons who may have been exposed to the COVID-19 virus.
The testing sites are closed on the weekends and university holidays.
Foggy Bottom Campus Asymptomatic (no symptoms) Testing
1957 E Street Lobby
Monday - Friday: 6 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Monroe Hall/Hall of Government Lobby
2115 G St., NW
Monday - Friday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Science and Engineering Hall Lobby
800 22nd St., NW
Monday - Thursday: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Foggy Bottom Campus Symptomatic Testing*
University Student Center, 800 21st Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20052
Monday - Thursday: 6 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
* Antigen test kits are available for pickup at this location for those individuals exiting isolation only.
Virginia Science and Technology Campus Asymptomatic (no symptoms) Testing
Enterprise Hall Main Floor Lobby (between rooms 175 and 176), 44983 Knoll Square
Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Staff assistance is available on Wednesdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Mount Vernon Campus Self-Testing
West Hall, Room B110, 2110 Foxhall Rd., NW, Washington, D.C. 20007
Sunday - Thursday: 6 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Friday: 6 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Arlington, Alexandria, and Rockville Self-Testing Locations
Appointments are available through the medical portal. Appointment days and times are limited and walk-ins are not allowed. Please check the links below for location hours.
950 N. Glebe Road
Arlington, VA 22203
413 John Carlyle Street, Suite 250
Alexandria, VA 22314
6110 Executive Blvd Suite 750
Rockville, MD 20852
Test Results
The GW Public Health Lab will process your test and provide results within 24 to 72 hours. Each individual will receive an email or text to review their test results in the medical portal.
- If you receive a negative test result:
- The virus that causes COVID-19 was not found in your sample. No additional actions are required and your access to campus is unaffected.
- The virus that causes COVID-19 was not found in your sample. No additional actions are required and your access to campus is unaffected.
- If you receive a positive test result:
- You will need to isolate.
There’s a very small chance that your COVID-19 test results could be wrong (a false positive or false negative test result). Your best course of action is to adhere to the behaviors outlined in the policy and contact the Student Health Center (students), 202-994-5300, or GW Occupational Health (faculty, staff and postdocs), if you develop symptoms and/or your symptoms escalate.
All test results, positive and negative, will be reported to D.C. Health, Virginia Department of Health or other state or county governmental entity as may be required by law. Your test results will be disclosed to the Student Health Center (students), GW Occupational Health (faculty, staff and postdocs) and the Campus COVID-19 Support Team (CCST).
Confidentiality
All test results will be confidential and will be maintained in a secure GW server and only disclosed to authorized individuals, as noted in the consent. You will be able to access your result through the medical portal. All test results (positive and negative) will be reported by the laboratory to D.C. Health, Virginia Department of Health or other state or county governmental entity as may be required by law.
Symptom Monitoring
Fully vaccinated students who develop symptoms consistent with COVID-19 should contact the Student Health Center at 202-994-5300; faculty, staff and postdocs should contact Occupational Health at 202-677-6230. These numbers are answered 24 hours a day, every day of the week by a clinician who can evaluate you for treatment or a referral.