COVID-19 Testing

Stanford has put in place a COVID-19 screening and surveillance testing program to provide regular testing for asymptomatic individuals living, working, or studying on campus. Please note that the process for students is separate from the process for faculty, staff, and postdocs.

Please note: any individuals traveling for Stanford-affiliated or personal reasons should also review testing guidance for travelers.

Undergraduate Students

Beginning August 27, 2021, all undergraduate students who live on/off campus (regardless of enrollment or vaccination status) or who are coming to campus regularly must register and test once weekly with Color Genomics. Unvaccinated undergraduate students who are living on/off campus or who are coming to campus regularly must register and test twice weekly. The weekly testing window is from Sunday to Saturday. Ideally, tests should be taken three days apart.

Students who live off campus and come to campus infrequently (once or twice a month) must register and test on the day of their campus visit(s) with Color Genomics.

Students with a high fever or other severe symptoms should instead contact Vaden Health Services or another healthcare provider for evaluation and testing.

Please visit Student Affairs COVID testing page for more information.

Graduate Students

Beginning August 27, 2021, all graduate and professional students who live on/off campus (regardless of enrollment or vaccination status) or who are coming to campus regularly must register and test once weekly with Color Genomics. Unvaccinated graduate and professional students who are living on/off campus or who are coming to campus regularly must register and test twice weekly. The weekly testing window is from Sunday to Saturday. Ideally, tests should be taken three days apart. 

Students who live off campus and come to campus infrequently (once or twice a month) must register and test on the day of their campus visit(s) with Color Genomics. 

Please visit Student Affairs Graduate Student COVID testing page for more information.

Faculty, Staff, and Postdoctoral Scholars

Beginning September 20, 2021, participation in Stanford's surveillance testing program is required for all faculty, staff and postdocs authorized to work on-site at a Stanford location in Santa Clara or San Mateo counties (which includes the main Stanford campus and Stanford Redwood City), regardless of vaccination status. Testing for faculty, staff and postdocs is done through Color Genomics

Fully vaccinated employees working on-site at least one day per week will be required to test once per week. Unvaccinated employees (including those who do not disclose vaccination status in Health Check) working on-site between one and three days per week must test once per week; those working on-site four or more days per week must test twice weekly. Others who work on-site infrequently (e.g. less than one day each week or every other week), will be required to test on the day they are scheduled to be on-site. Additionally, faculty, staff and postdocs who are approved to come on-site on a one-time basis (e.g. to pick up office equipment, drop off paperwork, etc.) are required to test on the day they are scheduled to be on-site.

This surveillance testing program is intended for individuals who are NOT experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. If you are experiencing symptoms, information about seeking care is available here. Please also report your symptoms in Health Check.

For additional information please visit the Health Alerts page on COVID-19 surveillance testing for faculty, staff, and postdocs