Frequently Asked Questions

Proactive testing for the virus that causes COVID-19 is one part of our effort to help prevent the spread of the virus as we transition to some face-to-face classes and more people working on campus. This program will allow us to quickly identify those who are infected, even if they are not experiencing symptoms and have them stay home so they do not spread the disease to others.

All current UTEP students and employees who will be on campus during the fall semester are eligible to be tested. All individuals who would like to participate in the testing program will be asked to fill out an online consent form before they will be invited to test.

No, the testing program is open only to UTEP students, faculty and staff who will be on campus during the fall semester and who DO NOT have COVID-19 symptoms. Family members of UTEP students and employees who are in the same vehicle can be tested in the UTEP section of the state drive-through testing site in the SC3 parking lot. To participate, you are encouraged to pre-register at http://honumg.info/Miners. Community members may take advantage of the public state drive-through testing site located in the SC1 parking lot.

You will be asked to present your UTEP ID, provide your 800 number, or provide your UTEP email address to check in. If you have your ID card, please bring it. We will have a scanner at the testing site and we expect scanning your card to be faster. 

With the exception of student athletes, no. Coronavirus tests are not required for employees and students, but highly recommended to help limit spread of the virus within our University community. 

Student-athletes have been testing through a commercial vendor since they arrived on campus for voluntary workouts.

Beginning Aug. 17, all student-athletes will be tested under the UTEP proactive testing program before using athletic facilities. Upon starting their respective seasons, they will be tested according to NCAA guidelines. 

Yes. The test is free, fast, convenient, painless and voluntary.

The University will continue offering COVID-19 testing into the spring semester. A notice to campus will be made to encourage use of the testing and to promote completion of the one-time consent form. Filling out this form online ahead of arrival at the testing site will facilitate the testing process. 

Each week, a random sample of students, faculty and staff required to be on campus for work, class or research activities will be invited to test. Using class and work schedules, the University will use a mathematical algorithm to randomly select the students and employees for testing each week. The algorithm is set up so that those who are on campus more frequently will be more likely to be randomly selected for proactive testing. You could be invited to test as often as once each week you are required to be on campus, or not at all.

Each week, a random sample of students, faculty and staff required to be on campus for work, class or research activities will be invited to test. You could be invited to test as often as once each week you are required to be campus, or not at all.

Athletes will be tested on a schedule developed by the Athletic Director. 

Students living in dormitories will be invited to be tested every 14 days.

Certain other subgroups, including musicians practicing on campus and students in certain clinical rotations, will also be tested more frequently than those participants who are randomly selected.

Students, faculty and staff who have consented to be tested may walk-in to be tested as testing capacity permits. No appointment is necessary. Individuals who come to the walk-up sites who are learning or working 100% remotely and who do not live on campus will be redirected to the State Drive-Through Testing Site – UTEP Section in the SC3 parking lot. People who have tested positive for COVID-19 will not be permitted to test at the University’s walk-up testing sites for 90 days because of the high possibility that a second test during this period will detect remnants of the virus, even if the individual is no longer contagious.

No. If you are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms or feeling ill, or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, please DO NOT COME TO CAMPUS. UTEP’s testing program is intended to identify individuals infected with the virus who may not know they are infected so they can stay home and avoid passing the virus to others. As such, UTEP will not be testing individuals with symptoms at the on-campus walk-up sites. Students, faculty and staff who are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 are advised to seek guidance from their medical provider or visit the UTEP section of the state drive-through testing site in the SC3 parking lot to be tested.

Individuals experiencing symptoms or who were exposed to a person with COVID-19 will be asked to self-isolate until released by the El Paso Public Health epidemiology team. Generally, this follows a 10-day isolation period and at least three days without symptoms.

When you arrive at the sample collecting station, the sample collector will insert a cotton swab into your mouth or nose to obtain a sample.

Results normally are expected within six to 12 hours, but may take as long as 48 hours. Participants will receive an email that indicates that their results are ready and directs them to a secure website to see them.

UTEP hired technicians who were trained to collect test samples to determine if you are positive or negative for the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-19), which causes COVID-19. The project is an interdisciplinary effort led by faculty in the Border Biomedical Research Center, Biological Sciences, Public Health Sciences and Mathematics. It also involves staff from the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects, Information Technology and University Relations.

For the winter break, the University will stage its walk-up site on the Undergraduate Learning Center (UGLC) patio. For the spring semester, the main walk-up sites will be at the UGLC, Union breezeway and the Fox Fine Arts lower-level courtyard. Floater test sites will be at the Campbell Building, Miner Canyon, and Engineering Building breezeway.

UTEP will pay for the testing program using funding made available through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Because samples will be assessed on campus without relying on external laboratories, results will be available in less than 48 hours. Each participant will receive an e-mail notification that results are available. They will log in to a secure website to access the results. If the results are negative, no further action will be required. If your test result is positive, you will receive a phone call from a UTEP Environmental Health and Safety employee with additional instructions. If your result is inconclusive, or indeterminate, you will be asked to take the test again.

If you are not experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and have not had close contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19, you may continue to come to class or work at UTEP as usual.

If your COVID-19 test is positive, please stay home. You will receive a phone call from a UTEP Environmental Health and Safety employee, who will advise you on next steps.

When a positive test result comes in, UTEP Environmental Health and Safety personnel will immediately ask the person who tested positive to stay home and not come to campus. Then, they will determine who else on campus may have been exposed to the person who received a positive test, such as classmates or co-workers, and invite them to be tested as well.

When someone tests positive, UTEP will identify which classes or offices the infected person has been in and will invite the classmates, faculty members and staff members who may have been exposed to be tested. People who have tested positive for COVID-19 will not be permitted to test at the University’s walk-up testing sites for 90 days because of the high possibility that a second test during this period will detect remnants of the virus, even if the individual is no longer contagious.

While we are highly encouraging everyone to participate, the testing program is voluntary for students, faculty and staff who will be on campus during the fall semester.  We expect some people will choose not to participate. Testing is one part of our strategies to help keep UTEP safe for those students and employees who have to be here.

No, the data we collect will not be used for research. The purpose of this project is to identify asymptomatic cases of COVID-19 among individuals who are taking classes or working on campus this semester. This information will allow us to identify locations on campus associated with individuals who have tested positive for the virus.

If your first coronavirus test was negative, you should still take preventive measures to protect yourself and those around you. If you are on campus during the fall semester, or if you are a student doing a practicum out in the community, there is no reason for you not to be retested. Also, if you consent to participate in UTEP’s coronavirus testing program, you may be randomly selected to be tested for coronavirus as often as once each week.

To address situations involving COVID-19-related compliance requirements involving face coverings and social distancing, students, faculty and staff can consult a helpful guide intended to assist the UTEP community in achieving compliance and supporting a safe and healthy environment. The guide is available at https://www.utep.edu/resuming-campus-operations/_Files/docs/STA_COVID19_20_Announcements_ComplianceReq.pdf

UTEP collaborated with the City of El Paso to establish two free COVID-19 drive-through testing sites on campus. The public drive-through testing site in the SC1 parking lot at Schuster Avenue and the Spur 1966 roundabout is open to anyone 5 years or older with or without symptoms. It is open 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., seven days a week.

UTEP negotiated with the city for a special drive-through section for Miners and their families in the SC3 parking lot at Schuster Avenue and Lawton Drive. This section enables UTEP students and employees who are learning or working from home or have COVID-19 symptoms and their family members to be tested for coronavirus.

All UTEP students and employees can be tested through the State Drive-Through Testing Site – UTEP Section on campus by showing your Miner Gold Card. This option is convenient for students who are taking classes 100% online, faculty and staff who are working remotely, and anyone with COVID-19 symptoms. Family members who are in the same vehicle are also eligible to be tested. To participate, you are encouraged to pre-register at http://honumg.info/Miners.  

Yes. Family members of UTEP students and employees who are in the same vehicle can be tested in the UTEP line in the SC3 parking lot. Community members also may take advantage of the state drive-through testing site located in the SC1 parking lot.

Individuals will have their results emailed to them within 3-5 days. Participants who do not have an email address will receive a phone call.

Participants will have their results emailed to them within 3-5 days. Remember to check your junk/spam email folders for the emailed test results. Participants who do not have an email address will receive a phone call.

You can call Honu Management Group at 844-778-2455 or email at covid19help@honumg.com.

The UTEP section in the SC3 parking lot for Miners and their families will be open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., or until the daily capacity is reached.

The public drive-through testing site in the SC1 parking lot will be open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., or until the daily capacity is reached.

In the UTEP section of the state testing site, you will be required to present your Miner Gold Card in order for you and your family members to be tested.

Yes. The test is free, convenient and voluntary.

The state testing registration form is NOT the same as the consent form for the UTEP Coronavirus Proactive Testing Program. The state’s online registration form can be filled out in advance at http://honumg.info/Miners.

Walk-ups are not allowed at the State Drive-Through Testing Site. The walk-up testing sites on campus are reserved for students and employees who have to be on campus for courses or work and DO NOT have any COVID-19 symptoms. Individuals who come to the walk-up sites who are learning or working 100% remotely and who do not live on campus will be redirected to the State Drive-Through Testing Site – UTEP Section in the SC3 parking lot.

If you are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms or feeling ill, or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, please come to the UTEP section of the state drive-through testing site to be tested. DO NOT come to UTEP’s walk-up sites on campus. Individuals experiencing symptoms or who were exposed to a person with COVID-19 will be asked to self-isolate until released by the El Paso Public Health epidemiology team. Generally, this follows a 10-day isolation period and at least three days without symptoms. Please report a positive result to UTEP through screening.utep.edu or at covidaction@utep.edu.

Nasal swabs will be collected at both state testing sites.

Tests at the state testing sites are conducted by the state contractor HONU.