EIU COVID-19

Employees and students who are unvaccinated, not yet fully vaccinated, or who do not wish to disclose their vaccination status with EIU will be notified via email (and text message if we have a current cell phone number) that they are required to test.

• When results are available, you will receive an email notifying you that new information is available in your MySHIELDIllinois Portal. Click the link, then log in using the username and password you set when signing up for the portal.

Testing takes place on Court 5 of the Student Rec Center.

• Mondays: 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• Tuesdays: 7:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• Wednesdays: 8:30 a.m. - 7 p.m.
• Thursdays: 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• Fridays: Testing currently unavailable

Participants will enter through the Northwest exterior doors of the building. Please do not use the main Student Rec Center doors.

Please note: There are stairs leading into the testing location on Court 5 of the Student Rec Center. If you need accessibility accommodation, please email shield@eiu.edu in advance to plan for accommodation.

• The test is saliva-based, is non-invasive, and only takes a few minutes to do.
• Individuals should not eat, drink (including water), chew gum, smoke, or consume tobacco products for one hour prior to the test.
• This Molecular LDT COVID‐19 Test is designed for use in a single laboratory to detect the virus that causes COVID‐19 in respiratory specimens, such as saliva. The testing method uses a novel PCR method developed at the University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign.

• The saliva test has a specificity of 99.8-99.9%, with very few false positives. Studies to date are consistent with this saliva test not being less accurate than a nasal test.

• Yes. The saliva test developed by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign detects the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, including new variants that have been identified to date.

• Negative: The virus was not detected.
• Invalid: The sample was non-optimal and could not produce appropriate data during testing at the lab. (Invalid results typically occur when non-optimal saliva samples are submitted. Before your next test, please be sure to refrain from eating, drinking, tooth brushing, mouth washing, or tobacco use for at least 1 hour prior to submitting your saliva sample. For best results, it is recommended to hydrate during the morning and get tested in the afternoon.)
• Positive: The virus was detected.
• Inconclusive: The sample was able to be processed in the lab, but was not able to definitively provide a detected or not detected result.
• Rejected: The sample was not able to begin the testing process in the lab. (This is likely due to low sample volume, the cap coming off the tube in transport or other damage to the tube, and/or extremely poor sample quality. Before your next test, please be sure to refrain from eating, drinking, tooth brushing, mouth washing, or tobacco use for at least 1 hour prior to submitting your saliva sample. For best results, it is recommended to hydrate during the morning and get tested in the afternoon.)

• If you have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 90 days, you should not participate in SHIELD testing at this time. For temporary exclusion from testing, employees should email Linda Holloway in Human Resources (lcholloway2@eiu.edu) and students should email Georgia Ryan in the Medical Clinic (garyan@eiu.edu).
• If it has been more than 90 days since you had COVID and you have not verified your full vaccination with EIU, you will be required to test.

• If you are fully vaccinated, you will not be required to participate in SHIELD testing. If you are unvaccinated or do not disclose your vaccination status you will be required to participate in EIU’s mandatory testing program. If you have been vaccinated, but believe you are experiencing symptoms of COVID, please contact the EIU Medical Clinic.

• Individuals who have tested positive within the last ten days should not retest. Retesting will not result in eliminating the quarantine requirements.

• If you have any general questions about the testing, please email shield@eiu.edu.
• If you are having issues signing into the portal or creating an account, call SHIELD IL Help at 217-265-6059. This is a 24/7 service. They will not release results, but they can assist people with access and supply reactivation codes/unlock accounts for patients.
• Remember, MySHIELDIllinois is NOT to be used for urgent needs. For medical emergencies, dial 911.

First, check all of your inboxes for an activation email from no-reply@illinois.edu (including spam and clutter).

• If you are required to test or want to voluntarily test and you received some communication from SHIELD Illinois (no-reply@illinois.edu), you should call the Shield Help Desk at 217-265-6059 for assistance. They will be able to send you a new activation code to set up your SHIELD account.
• If you are required to test/want to voluntarily test, but have not received any communication from SHIELD Illinois, you should be able to use open scheduling at the following link: go.eiu.edu/EIUShield. Then, you will be prompted to create an account with Shield to receive your results. Remember your SHIELD username and password, as you will need it to make appointments in the future.
• If you call the Shield Help Desk and they say that they do not have you in their system, you can schedule your FIRST test at go.eiu.edu/EIUShield. Then, you will be prompted to create an account with Shield to receive your results. Remember your SHIELD username and password, as you will need it to make appointments in the future.
• If you are required to test/want to voluntarily test and this is NOT your first time using SHIELD Illinois testing at EIU, you will login with your SHIELD username and password to see your results and/or to make another appointment.

After your first time using go.eiu.edu/EIUShield or open scheduling, it will require you to log in to make future appointments.

Remember your SHIELD username and password as you will need them to make appointments in the future.