GC Begins COVID-19 Testing

(Milledgeville, Ga) – Georgia College began on-campus coronavirus testing a little more than one month after in-person classes started.

In a statement released on September 10th, Britt McCrae, GC Student Health Services Director, announced that the university would offer free COVID-19 saliva tests beginning on September 11th.

“Today we did about 10,” McCrae told WGUR radio following the first day of testing. “You deposit your specimen in a tube, and we send it to a lab and usually get the results back between 2-3 days.”

McCrae said the test has a 98% accuracy rate.

“It’s looking for genetic material from the coronavirus much like the nasal swab does,” said McCrae.

The FDA approved tests were created by RUCDR Infinite Biologics in New Jersey, a division of Rutgers University.  

According to McCrae, Georgia College gets the tests from Vault Health.

Due to an interest in afternoon appointments, McCrae said testing times will be from 11 AM - 3 PM beginning Monday, September 14th.

With expanded hours McCrae hopes to test 16-20 students per day.

To schedule a test you must call 478-445-5288. “Eating or drinking 30 minutes prior to the test could lead to an inaccurate result,” McCrae cautioned.

Upon arrival, students will use their smartphones to scan a QR code which will link to forms from the testing facility – after completing those forms the test will be administered.

There is no out-of-pocket cost to students, however, you will be asked to provide your insurance information if you have it.

Right now they prefer symptomatic students are the ones utilizing the tests, because “we’re limited in the number of tests we have right now,” McCrae said. “Secondly, because once your symptoms are present you’re more likely to get an accurate test result.” 

Listen to the report here.