About the COVID-19 Early Detection Program

Overview

The MSU COVID-19 Early Detection Program has been designed to create a campus-wide net that provides two primary benefits:

• Secure and timely test data that provides the COVID-19 status of campus community members at the highest risk of transmission. This enables individuals to protect themselves and each other from spread.
• The generation of actionable, quality population level data, so that university leaders can make critical, informed, and immediate decisions regarding the health and safety of MSU’s people and places.

Who Can Participate?

• Students, faculty and staff in the East Lansing area may voluntarily join this program to play a crucial role in enhancing the health and safety of everyone in the Spartan community.

• Who must participate in the Early Detection Program for Fall 2021?

  Beginning Sept. 1, students or employees with approved medical or religious exemptions must participate in EDP. The same must also participate while waiting for a decision on an exemption.

  Note: some medical students are also mandatory due to clinical site requirements. Those students will receive specifics directly from their college point of contact.

  I’m not near campus, but I need to participate in EDP. What should I do?

  Students: online only students with an approved exemption do not need to participate in EDP since they will not be coming to campus during the semester. Students attending remote locations such as Grand Rapids, Flint, Kellogg Biological Center or SE Michigan can participate there. Be sure your sample day matches the pick up day for the off-campus location. See the locations page for details.

  Employees: faculty and staff who do not live or work near the East Lansing campus should participate at a regional location as available - currently includes Flint, Grand Rapids, Macomb County, and Kellogg Biological Station. Be sure your sample day matches the pick up day for the off-campus location. See the locations page for details.

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Effective August 1, 2021

Per the July 30 memo from President Stanley:

1. All individuals are required to wear masks indoors beginning Aug. 1 in all campus buildings and other MSU facilities in East Lansing and throughout the state. This requirement will be in place for at least the first weeks of the fall semester.
2. All students, faculty and staff are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with an FDA-authorized or WHO-approved vaccine by Aug. 31. Limited exemptions for medical or religious reasons will be provided.

Students, faculty or staff who have not completed their vaccine regimen and those exempt from the vaccine for health or religious reasons will be required to take part in MSU’s Early Detection Program and other measures that help keep them safe.

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How Does It Work?

Participants register for the program and choose their recurring preferred day for weekly testing. Each week, participants will be reminded to pick up a Spartan Spit Kit, follow the steps to provide a sample, then return their bagged sample vial, to one of several locations on or near campus.

Sample status and progress can be tracked by logging on to Spartan Health Check (MSU NetID required). Participants will receive a text and email notification when results are available on Spartan Health Check.

Three results are possible:

• NO ACTION REQUIRED (not recommended for further clinical assessment)
• POSITIVE (the University Physician or Traige Team will reach out to those who receive a positive result)
• REJECTED (due to quality issues with the sample)

Learn more about what these mean on the Frequently Asked Questions page.

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