Surveillance Testing Program
Xavier’s ongoing surveillance testing program includes random testing for students, faculty, staff, and certain on-campus vendors, with the goal of testing approximately 10% of the campus each week.
Testing is performed by Xavier University Laboratory at the College of Pharmacy. The laboratory is certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) to perform this high-complexity testing. Sampling for the COVID test is being performed by The Office of Student Health Services.
All testing data, including numbers of tests and positive results, are shared with the Louisiana Department of Health, are reflected in state and city reporting and can be found on Xavier’s COVID 19 Dashboard. All personally identifiable information related to COVID-19 testing will be kept confidential. Xavier will not disclose the name of any person with COVID-19 to anyone, including the contacts that are notified through the tracing program
Elements of the plan include:
- Required random testing throughout the semester of all undergraduate, graduate and professional program students.
- Required random testing of Faculty and Staff by categories designated by HR.
- Utilization of contact tracers and a proximity monitoring system to identify potential outbreaks and hot spots to guide additional testing on an as-needed basis.
All who need to be tested through the ongoing surveillance program will be notified by email. Being identified for random surveillance testing does not mean that an individual has been exposed to the virus or is suspected of being positive. Rather, the individual has been chosen at random for the test, a proven strategy for monitoring the health of the community.
Surveillance Testing FAQ
If you are an employee, please email Adicia Waddell @ awaddel1@xula.edu. If you are a student, please email Health Services @ healthservices@xula.edu. Limited exceptions will be made.
If you are on both sampling lists, you may be randomly selected for either one or both.
Staff will monitor for physical distancing during surveillance testing. There are also floor markings to indicate safe distancing.
Both symptomatic and asymptomatic testing are conducted by Student Health Services, but in different areas of the building.
If you have COVID symptoms, please do not report for surveillance testing. If you are an employee, please email Adicia Waddell @ awaddel1@xula.edu. If you are a student, please email Health Services @ healthservices@xula.edu.
The process is designed to be as efficient as possible. The surveillance testing sampling strategy is intended to spread volume across days and time blocks to allow for an efficient process and should take about an hour or less.
Yes, your test will be accepted if the test is done within the testing time requested. If you are a student please submit your results to Health Services via email @ healthservices@xula.edu, secure upload into the Patient Portal or Fax: (504)520-7962. If you are an employee you must submit your results to Dr. William Kirchain @ wkirchai@xula.edu.
Results from Xavier’s testing lab are available 24-72 hours after the test. Students may email, Health Services @ healthservices@xula.edu and employees and campus vendors may email Dr. William Kirchain @ wkirchai@xula.edu with any questions.
Those tested by Xavier’s testing lab will receive their results by phone if positive.
You will also receive an email from CareEvolve@lknotification.com. if you have negative results. You must create a patient account to obtain those results. Please see Register to get your COVID-19 Test Results for instructions.
If you are a student you will be contacted by a provider from Student Health Services. If you are an employee or vendor you will be contacted by Dr. William Kirchain. You will be required to self-isolate and not attend classes, report to work or participate in any other public activity.
Student Health Services will assist students with a COVID Positive Plan A nurse will help you coordinate the self-isolation process. After you have completed the self-isolation period Health Services will provide you with the documentation necessary to return to campus activity.
See when to isolate
No, you do not need to quarantine while waiting on COVID surveillance testing results.
If you are an employee, please email Adicia Waddell @ awaddel1@xula.edu. If you are a student, please email Health Services @ healthservices@xula.edu. Limited exceptions will be made.
If you are an employee, please email Adicia Waddell @ awaddel1@xula.edu. If you are a student, please email Health Services @ healthservices@xula.edu.
If you are an employee, please email Adicia Waddell @ awaddel1@xula.edu. If you are a student, please email Health Services @ healthservices@xula.edu.
Xavier Student Health is conducting PCR (polymerase chain reaction) viral tests with a nasal swab that tells you if you have the infection (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/testing.html).
Abbott BinaxNOW COVID Rapid Test may be used at the discretion of Student Health Services.
Do not wait for University provided testing if you have come in contact with or cared for a person diagnosed with COVID-19, or if you have experienced any COVID-19 related symptoms. Please seek the immediate attention of a primary care provider for evaluation, testing, and possible medical treatment.
Close contacts (came within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for at least 15 minutes) should:
- Stay home for at least 10 days after their last contact with a person who has COVID-19.
- Watch for fever (100.4°F or more), cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19.
- If possible, stay away from others, especially people who are at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19.
- See When to Quarantine
Contact Us
Office of Student Health Services
St. Joseph Academic & Health Resource Center
Building #13, Room 217
Office: 504-520-7396
Fax: 504-520-7962
Mailing Address
1 Drexel Drive
P.O. Box 36
New Orleans, LA 70125
Hours of Operation
Monday - Thursday: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Friday: 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM
1:00 PM to 2:00 PM Closed for Lunch