Campus Surveillance Testing

Vending Machines Locations 

NOTE: Vending machines are only accessible Monday-Friday (no weekend service), please do not drop samples off after Friday at 3 pm.

  • ASUC Student Union, 1st floor (near Bank of the West, BNorth entrance), open 

    Monday-Friday 8 am- midnight. 

  • NEW!: Doe Library (South entrance), Monday-Friday, 8 am-9 pm
  • Sutardja Dai Hall (1st-floor entrance by Yali’s Qualcomm Cafe), open Monday-Friday, 7 am- 6 pm 
  • PCR test kits can also be picked up at the Tang Center front desk when we are open. There is also a sample drop box inside the Tang Center.

Vending Machine Instructions

A phone is needed to scan QR codes to dispense kits from the machine.

  1. Scan QR code on the machine screen (QR code on the left side of the machine screen) or log-in to eTang.
  2. Once logged into eTang home page click: "Use this link to scan the 'Dispense Test' QR code" on the vending and click continue to start scanning the code on the machine (QR code on the right).
  3. Kit is dispensed at the bottom of the machine. (be sure to feel around the test dispense area for the kit)
  4. Once you have done your sample collection, log back into eTang to register your sample kit number. This is a critical step.
  5. Drop the collected sample that has been registered on eTang in the drop box next to the vending machine.  Lab samples are picked up daily at 3 pm.  If you drop off after 3 pm, it will be picked up the next day and the results will be 24 after the day of pick-up.
  6. Lab results will still be available in eTang within 24 hours. 

Please note: you can get a test kit once every 48 hours. If there is an error or you do not get a test dispensed, you either have to wait 48 hours or visit UHS to pick up a test kit.

About Surveillance Testing

UHS offers free regular COVID-19 screening for students and faculty and staff who are on campus for work. Testing is also available for visiting scholars, postdocs, and visiting students who have a CalNet ID/affiliate ID.

This testing is not intended for those who currently have COVID-19 symptoms. Please see the symptomatic testing section for more information.

Those who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 should not get surveillance testing for 90 days following their positive test.  If you tested postive outside of UHS, please send a message via eTang to the COVID Response Team and upload a copy of your test result.

Campus Surveillance Testing Recommendations for Faculty, Staff, and Students

  • For those who are fully vaccinated and boosted or vaccinated but not yet eligible for a booster, regular surveillance testing is not required. 
  • Anyone traveling within the past seven days, or engaging in high-risk activities, is encouraged to test - either through the PCR tests available at the vending machines or by at-home antigen tests.
  • For those that are not fully vaccinated, or booster eligible but not yet boosted, or who have an approved exemption weekly surveillance testing is strongly recommended.  

Please upload your outside vaccine / booster record to eTang. 

There is no longer a testing badge or campus access badge to verify testing status.

As of January 11, the vending machine at Crossroads Dining has moved to Doe Library, South Entrance.

student at PCR test vending machine

PCR Test Vending Machine Instructions

flyer of vending machine instructions

Your Test Results

You can find your results in the eTang system within 24-48 hours and we encourage you to check. Notifications about results are sent out the evening the results are loaded. Positives will receive a message through the eTang portal.