Testing
Testing Update
The widespread availability of vaccines and at-home testing has significantly decreased demand for asymptomatic testing on our campus. Because of the limited use, the asymptomatic COVID-19 testing location at the Biomedical Research Tower (BRT) will close on January 27, 2023.
Students, faculty and staff can pick up COVID-19 at-home antigen tests at select locations on the Columbus and regional campuses. Free at-home COVID-19 tests can also be ordered from the federal government at covid.gov/tests.
Students who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 can schedule a COVID-19 test from their primary care physician or the Student Health Services through My BuckMD. Testing for employees experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 is also available at the Wexner Medical Center and tests can be scheduled by calling the Ohio State University COVID Call Center at 614-293-4000.
Testing Process
Appointments are scheduled via MyChart. It is recommended to schedule appointments in advance to ensure the appointments fit best with your schedule. Walk-ups will not be permitted. Testing at these locations is at no cost to students or employees.
To create a MyChart account, please visit https://mychart.osu.edu/osumc/signup to complete the registration form. For assistance with MyChart, please call MyChart Technical Support at 866-966-6975 (available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.) or email MyChartTechSupport@osumc.edu.
Please note: The university testing sites are for asymptomatic individuals. If you are experiencing any symptoms, contact your health care provider or call 614-293-4000 to schedule a test. Additional information is available on the Symptomatic Testing page.
Scheduling Instructions
Please follow the steps below for scheduling an appointment for COVID-19 screening testing using a mobile device or by using a browser on a computer or tablet:
Log in to MyChart and tap Appointments > Schedule an appointment.
Select the most convenient COVID-19 campus testing site.
Employees should select: OSU COVID-19 Columbus Campus Employee Testing
Students should select: OSU COVID-19 Columbus Campus Student Testing
Read the consent and then tap I Consent. If you tap I Do Not Consent, you cannot proceed with scheduling an appointment.
Scroll down and answer all the questionnaire questions to the best of your knowledge. The questions are required for reporting to various state and federal agencies. When you’re finished answering questions, tap Continue.
Tap an appointment time.
Appointment times are every 15 minutes. You can arrive for your appointment up to 30 minutes ahead of time.
Note: Individuals who arrive more than 30 minutes past their scheduled appointment time will be unable to “Check-in” for their appointment and will be required to reschedule.
Double check your selections. In the “What is the most important thing you want addressed during this visit” field, enter “COVID Testing”.
Then, tap Schedule. The appointment is now scheduled, and you will receive a confirmation email with the appointment details and instructions.
For a detailed MyChart instruction guide, visit the Wexner Medical Center’s website.
Testing Process
Before you arrive at the testing site: Please bring your BuckID and a mobile device to the testing site. Because this is a saliva test, it is recommended that you hydrate in the hours before your scheduled test. For at least 30 minutes before saliva collection, it is important that you DO NOT:
Eat or drink
Smoke
Clean your teeth
Chew gum
Use nasal sprays
Once you arrive to the testing site: You may check in up to 30 minutes prior to arriving at the testing site. Check-in is required prior to arriving at the check-in table at your testing location.
Log in to MyChart and tap Appointments
Tap your OSU COVID-19 Testing appointment to open it and then tap “I’m Here”
A “Welcome” message will appears. Tap “OK” to acknowledge it.
Follow signage to “MyChart Check-In”
A staff member will direct you through the process once you arrive at the check-in table.
Results
You will receive results via your MyChart account within two to three business days. When test results are available, MyChart will send an email to the email address associated with your MyChart account. Tap the link in the email and then log in to MyChart to review your results. You may also log in to MyChart any time and then tap Results on the MyChart home screen.
A representative from the Ohio State Case Investigation and Contact Tracing Team will call you if you have a positive test result. Please note that if results are received later into the night, you may not be contacted until the next morning.
Frequently Asked Questions
I tested positive, what do I do now?
Please note that isolation and quarantine guidance may vary based on specific circumstances, including for health care personnel and the immunocompromised. Please visit the Isolation and Quarantine webpage for general guidance.
MyChart
How do I register for MyChart?
Students and employees will use MyChart for scheduling appointments and receiving results. If you do not currently have a MyChart account, please visit https://mychart.osu.edu/osumc/signup to complete the registration form.
If you have difficulty creating your account, you can call MyChart Support at 866-966-6975, option 3 (available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.) or email MyChartTechSupport@osumc.edu for assistance (email may take up to 2 business days for response).
What if I’ve forgotten my MyChart username or password?
Instructions for retrieving a username or password appear on the MyChart login page. If those options don’t work, call MyChart Support at 866-966-6975, option 3 (Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.) or email MyChartTechSupport@osumc.edu (email may take up to 2 business days for response).