Vending the Test

From an email circulated yesterday:

Dear Bruin Community: We're writing with some important information for campus faculty, staff and students. This information does not apply to UCLA Health employees. Additional communication will be provided to UCLA Health after the UC Office of the President COVID-19 vaccine policy is issued on July 15.

Starting Monday, July 12, active BruinCard holders will have convenient access to self-administered saliva-based COVID-19 tests in a dozen vending machines located across campus.

As a reminder, per our updated COVID-19 testing policy, all campus faculty, staff and students who are coming to campus and are unvaccinated, or who have yet to present proof of vaccination at one of the current COVID-19 test sites, are required to test once per week or each time they come to campus if less frequently than weekly.

Vaccinated campus faculty, staff and students who are living, learning or working on campus are eligible to opt out of the current weekly testing program by going to 300 Bradley Hall and presenting proof of full vaccination. UCLA Health will have a separate process for documenting vaccination, which will be communicated after July 15.

Daily symptom monitoring is still required by Cal/OSHA for faculty, staff and student workers who are coming to campus and other UCLA properties, regardless of vaccination status.

Beginning Monday, July 12, anyone with an active BruinCard will be able to receive up to two test kits each week. All BruinCards will automatically receive a complimentary $2 credit on a weekly basis to be used to purchase COVID-19 tests from these dedicated vending machines. These credits will not be valid at any other vending machines or for any other use.

Once a test sample has been completed, it may be deposited in any of the marked collection bins, which are located adjacent to the vending machines. Test samples can be deposited Monday to Thursday between 6 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., and Friday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Test samples should be deposited within one hour of taking the test in order to maintain proper temperature. Individuals depositing test samples before 11 a.m. can expect results within 24 hours, while those depositing samples after 11 a.m. can expect results within 48 hours. Test samples should not be deposited between Friday at 2 p.m. and Monday at 6 a.m.

Those requiring in-person testing or who are unable to get a test kit from a vending machine, as well as those who need help with testing for any other reason, are asked to go to 300 Bradley Hall for assistance.  Additionally, there are some in-person distribution sites where tests are available for pick-up/drop-off. As a reminder, the last day for in-person testing at Collins Court and Switzer Plaza is today, July 9.

For more information, visit the Ashe Student Health and Wellness Center website. Those with questions are encouraged to send an email to exposuremanagementteam@ashe.ucla.edu.

As we continue to ramp up our in-person operations in preparation for the fall term, we hope you will  find this new method of self-administered testing to be convenient and easy to use. Thank you for your continued cooperation in adhering to campus public safety protocols.

Sincerely,

Michael J. Beck Administrative Vice Chancellor Co-chair, COVID-19 Response and Recovery Task Force Michael Meranze Immediate Past Chair, UCLA Academic Senate Professor of History Co-chair, COVID-19 Response and Recovery Task Force