Testing & Tracing
Regular COVID-19 testing is a key part of Harvard’s collective efforts to track the presence of the virus in our community, reduce the risk of transmission, and ensure that the safety protocols we’ve established are meeting their intended goals. The University’s testing plan is subject to modification based on community risk and the broader public health environment.
All Harvard affiliates with any on-campus presence are required to test at their assigned cadence. Testing cadences are determined by several factors, including your vaccination status, whether you live on or off campus, and infection rates in the local community.
If you’re away from campus for the winter recess, you can disregard your Color notifications and resume testing upon your return. If you are currently outside of the Boston/Cambridge area, get tested prior to your return travel to ensure you are not putting others at risk of infection while in transit. See the cadences below for your return.
Questions? Your local testing coordinator is your primary point of contact for logistics around accessing testing. If you have clinical or policy questions about testing, you should contact Harvard University Health Services at healthservices@huhs.harvard.edu.
To request a testing accommodation, employees should contact disabilityresources@harvard.edu or your local HR; students should contact your School’s local student disability coordinator.
Testing FAQs
- How do I set up my Color account and get tested?
- Where do I pick up my test kits?
- How do I self-swab?
- How often do I test?
- Where and when do I drop off my sample?
- What do my test results mean?
- What should I do if I think I’ve been exposed?
- What type of test does Harvard use?
- How else can I get tested?
- What should I do if I test positive outside of Harvard’s testing program?
How do I set up my Color account and get tested?
Harvard has partnered with Color, a health testing company, to administer the University’s testing procedures. These include providing testing kits, sending test reminders, and delivering test results to individuals.
All testing is done through unobserved self-swabs.
1. Once you’re notified that you’re eligible for our testing program, you should create your Color account using your Harvard email address. For technical questions about creating your Color account, email support@color.com.
2. If you have trouble establishing your account, review the Color End User Support FAQ. If your question is not answered there, or if you have other questions about your testing eligibility, contact your School or Unit’s local testing coordinator.
3. To learn more about the steps for self-testing, see the training module “How do I self-swab?” linked below.
Where do I pick up my test kits?
You may have access to a local supply of test kits in your department, unit, or residence.
Staff, faculty, and researchers: check with your supervisor.
Students: check with your tutor/proctor/resident advisor, or unit or property manager.
You can also check with your School or Unit’s local testing coordinator for test kit pick-up locations.
See kit pick up information by School or UnitOpens new window
How do I self-swab?
Watch the self-paced training module to learn every step of the process—from creating your Color account to completing the self-swab.
Testing cadences
Anyone living in on-campus undergraduate housing (vaccinated)
Anyone living in on-campus undergraduate housing (unvaccinated)
Undergraduates living off-campus (vaccinated)
Undergraduates living off-campus (unvaccinated)
Graduate students (vaccinated)
Graduate students (unvaccinated)
Faculty, staff, and researchers with a regular on-campus presence (vaccinated)
Faculty, staff, and researchers with a regular on-campus presence (unvaccinated)
Faculty, staff, and researchers with an infrequent on-campus presence less than once per week (vaccinated)
Faculty, staff, and researchers with an infrequent on-campus presence less than once per week (unvaccinated)
View the testing calendar for collection dates and times
Drop-off bins
Drop-off bins are available at multiple locations across campus to collect unobserved test samples. View the map and click or tap into each location to see last pick-up times. Test kits must only be returned to the designated drop boxes by the individual who tested; they should not be passed onto others or aggregated for group drop-offs.
I just got my test results. What’s next?
Color will send you an email and text notification when your results are available.
The HUHS Contact Tracing Team will email you instructions once they receive the alert from Color. Check your Harvard email and use the resources below to inform your next steps.
If my test is negative
No further action is needed. Continue to wear a mask, practice healthy habits, and maintain your testing cadence.
If my test is positive
HUHS will contact you to explain next steps, including how to isolate. Contact tracers rely on your Harvard email for communication, so please check your inbox.
If my test is unsatisfactory or inconclusive
Occasionally, your result may be unsatisfactory; in rare instances, it may be inconclusive. If you receive either result, you will need to promptly repeat the test.
I think I’ve been exposed. What should I do?
Use the resources below to inform your next steps. Follow these steps if you think you were exposed to a COVID-positive individual—whether on or off campus—but you have not tested positive.
Follow HUHS’ exposure guidance
If you’re a close contact, your quarantine requirements will depend on your vaccination and booster status. Additional requirements apply to members of Harvard’s health care and campus child care workforce.
Report your exposure
Use Crimson Clear to report your exposure, symptoms, or if you tested positive outside of Harvard’s testing program.
Review HUHS FAQs
HUHS has gathered a list of FAQs to help you navigate the changing policies and procedures related to testing, exposure, quarantine, and isolation.
COVID-19 Testing and Tracing
Test Methodology
Harvard’s testing program utilizes reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests analyzed by the Harvard University Clinical Laboratory and the Broad Institute’s Clinical Research Sequencing Platform.
If you need to show proof of a negative PCR test (e.g. to fulfill a travel requirement), you can download your complete clinical report from the results page in your Color account.
COVID-19 Testing and Tracing
Data collection and privacy
Learn what data will be collected, how data will be used, and what the University is doing to protect your privacy.
How else can I get tested?
If you’re not eligible to participate in Harvard’s testing program, other local testing options include the Stop the Spread program (free to Massachusetts residents), the Cambridge Public Health Department program (free to people who live or work in Cambridge), and Boston COVID-19 testing sites. Check with your local health department or your primary care physician to learn about other options.
If you’re traveling internationally, carefully research your destinations’ requirements for entry (e.g. testing, vaccination, quarantine, etc.)—which are changing on short notice. You also need to research the availability and cost of testing in your destination to ensure you can comply with U.S. re-entry requirements.
Note that most insurance plans only cover testing if you have symptoms or known exposure to an infected person.