New testing locations and at-home testing kits made available
MIT to move from observed self-testing to unobserved self-testing
As of Aug. 16, MIT Medical’s Johnson Athletics Center testing facility has moved to W35-199, beside the Zesiger Center lobby. Additionally, MIT is transitioning toward unobserved self-testing, offering at-home testing kits at various locations.
The new location has the same hours as the Johnson facility — 6 a.m.–6p.m. on weekdays. MIT plans to discontinue observed self-testing at the location starting Sept. 6 in order to allow for quick processing of a high volume of tests resulting from the full return of the MIT community to campus.
The new unobserved testing kits will be available at the W35-199 testing location, the MIT Medical atrium in Building E52, the Stata Center (near the MIT Ticket Office), Building E62 for Sloan School of Management community members only, and Lobby 7.
All locations will be staffed and kits can be picked up or dropped off on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Additional locations for drop off are expected to become available in the near future.
In order to partake in unobserved self-testing, community members must pick up a testing kit and access the MIT Medical section of the Atlas mobile app.
To take the test, community members must scan the barcode on the card or collection tube of the kit and swab as usual with the included swab before placing the collection tube into the provided biohazard bag, which can then be returned to one of the pick up/drop off locations.
Tests must be returned to the locations on the same day they are administered.
In order to access campus, community members must test twice a week and can choose to follow a Monday/Thursday or Tuesday/Friday testing schedule. Students arriving on campus must test on the first, fourth, and seventh days that they are on campus.
MIT Medical has administered a total of 7,062 COVID-19 tests since Aug. 23 and recorded 4 positive cases.
Community members will still be able to access observed self-testing at the MIT Medical trailer testing location.