We're working closely with NHS Test and Trace to offer simple, safe and free COVID-19 tests to students who are showing no symptoms. Not everyone who has COVID-19 shows the symptoms and you could spread the virus without even knowing you have it. Getting tested doesn't just keep you safe, it keeps your friends, family and teachers safe - especially those with vulnerabilities.
We expect students who are coming to campus - for teaching, to use the library, or other essential activities - to book a test (unless you have tested positive within the last 90 days). The first thing you should do when arriving on campus is to get a test.
Please do not travel to campus just to get a test done, as unnecessary transport increases the risk of transmission. It is important that before travelling to campus for any Asymptomatic test, you consider carefully how you would travel home safely in the event that you test positive
Find out more about what to expect at the test site in the video - it's quick, easy, and helps to keep everyone safe.
Testing will take place in PAG04 in Portacabin A on campus. Testing will be carried out from Monday to Friday between 8am - 12pm. You can find a map of campus on UniHub.
Appointments will need to be booked beforehand to ensure social distancing can be maintained and that we keep everyone safe.
Booking a test is simple and quick, please follow these steps:
If you're coming onto campus (for teaching, to use the library, or other essential activities) you can book a test for the time that you are arriving on campus. If you're on campus for multiple days in a week, you can take two tests.
On-site testing
At the moment, there is an on-site testing facility where you can pre-book to have your test when you first come onto campus. The facility, located in Portacabin A, is being phased out across June and is operating at reduced hours in the meantime. Availability is limited but can be booked in advance here.
Home-kits available from the Quad and online:
Regular asymptomatic self-testing is encouraged by government and helps to ensure we can all prevent any unknown spread of COVID across our families and communities. Anyone can now order home kits to their house via the government website here, or attend a testing site local in their community here.
Anyone already coming to campus can also collect home testing kits from the security desk in the Quad, opposite the main reception. We recommend that anyone who has a need to be on campus utilises the opportunity to take home-testing kits away to self-test at home before coming back to campus again.
Do not come to campus just to collect testing kits. You can order kits from home or in the local community via the above links.
Please don't travel to campus to take a second test later in the week if you do not need to do so. Only book a second test if you are coming onto campus again (for teaching, to use the library, or other essential activities) in the same week
It is important that before travelling to campus for any Asymptomatic test, you should consider carefully how you would travel home safely in the event that you test positive. Current government guidance stipulates people should not use public transport, taxi or any private hire vehicles if they know that they have COVID-19. It will be necessary to ensure that you can either walk, cycle or drive directly home safely in the event of a positive test result, or get a lift from another member of your household.
No, the test is freely available for all students
The tests are only for those with NO symptoms and who are returning to campus (please don't come to campus unnecessarily, and please consider carefully how you would travel home safely in the event that you test positive)
Tests must be booked in advance, and for the time that you arrive on campus (i.e. not at the end of the day)
Once you have had your test, you should receive your results within 4-6 hours. However, occasionally the results take longer to come through, and may take up to 48 hours to arrive.
For those who test positive, it is important that for the safety of everybody, you travel home as soon as possible. You will also need to self-isolate immediately (in line with government guidance) and then get a confirmatory PCR test within 3 days of testing positive and let us know as soon as possible by completing this short form (and reading this privacy notice). If that PCR test is negative then you can carry on as normal, if positive then you must continue to isolate in line with government guidance. (please link to government guidance on isolation for testing positive)
It is important that before travelling to campus for any Asymptomatic test, you consider carefully how you would travel home safely in the event that you test positive. Current government guidance stipulates people should not use public transport, taxi or any private hire vehicles if they know that they have COVID-19. It will be necessary to ensure that you can either walk, cycle or drive directly home safely in the event of a positive test result, or get a lift from another member of your household.
Getting a local test if you can’t travel home safely and securely:
Students that are reliant on public transport or taxis, or a lift from someone outside of your household to get home, should instead arrange to have your Asymptomatic COVID-19 test locally and then travel directly to campus afterwards upon receipt of a negative result. There are accessible venues offering free lateral flow tests in every borough of London and widely across England. Check the location of the nearest centre locally and book a local test through the government site here.
If you still feel unwell after 10 days you must contact NHS 111.
If you receive a negative result, and will continue to come onto campus we would ask that you book a new test within three days, or for the next time you are on campus. Please don't come onto campus unnecessarily for your second test.
We expect you to continue social distancing and following COVID-19 secure measures on campus.
Please note that this test will pick up most infections but not all. This is why we are encouraging students to take two tests. If you have one negative test it makes it less likely you have COVID-19, if you receive two negative results it reduces the likelihood you have COVID-19 further. However, this test is not 100% accurate and you need to continue to follow social distancing guidance to protect yourself and others.
It is important that before travelling to campus for any Asymptomatic test, you consider carefully how you would travel home safely in the event that you test positive. Current government guidance stipulates people should not use public transport, taxi or any private hire vehicles if they know that they have COVID-19. It will be necessary to ensure that you can either walk, cycle or drive directly home safely in the event of a positive test result, or get a lift from another member of your household.
Getting a local test if you can’t travel home safely and securely:
Students that are reliant on public transport or taxis, or a lift from someone outside of your household to get home, should instead arrange to have your Asymptomatic COVID-19 test locally and then travel directly to campus afterwards upon receipt of a negative result. There are accessible venues offering free lateral flow tests in every borough of London and widely across England. Check the location of the nearest centre locally and book a local test through the government site here.
You should not travel to campus at all if they have any symptoms of COVID-19.
The Lateral flow test (LFT) is designed to detect the level of virus in individuals who do not experience or show any symptoms (they are asymptomatic), but who could still be infectious and pass the virus to others.
By taking a test, you will help to stop the spread of the virus, protect other people and save lives.
It's really important that we all do our bit to stop the spread of the virus and protect other members of society.
Participating in the test will help our country fight the pandemic and save lives. Self-isolation, whilst disruptive for those affected, is an essential part of the fight against the virus.
No, this test is aimed at students and staff in universities.
If family members experience COVID-19 symptoms, they must follow standard government guidance, including self-isolating immediately and booking a test through nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119 in England and Wales, or 0300 303 2713 in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
No, you should only get a test if you are coming onto campus for teaching, to use the library or other facilities. You should not make any unnecessary trips to campus to get tested.
There are two main types of test used to check if people currently have coronavirus.
The first is a PCR test which looks for the virus’s genetic material (Ribonucleic acid or RNA). These tests are currently more commonly used in the NHS for symptomatic testing. They require a laboratory to be processed.
The second is called a Lateral Flow Antigen Test which detects the coronavirus antigen that is produced when a person is infectious with coronavirus. These are quicker, produce a result within 30 minutes and do not require a laboratory to be processed. This is the test that we are offering at our testing site on campus.
If you are coming onto campus you should ideally allow enough time to take two of these tests, three days apart. However, only book a second test if you are planning to come back onto campus. Please don't make any unnecessary trips to get a test.
Lateral Flow Tests do not detect every single positive case, and therefore taking two tests increases the chances of detection.
Lateral Flow Tests are very accurate (highly specific) which means that only a very small proportion of people who do not have coronavirus will receive a positive result (false positive).
In mass testing, because so many people without symptoms are being tested, there is still the possibility of getting a false positive result.
To keep everyone on #TeamMDX safe, and as set out in our community statement, appropriate face coverings need to be worn throughout the testing process and whilst in the testing facility. You will be advised when to remove your face covering by a testing professional when your sample is taken.
Should you have an age, health or disability reason for not wearing a face covering, please alert the site manager about your situation as soon as you arrive on site so that they can take additional precautions.
Please note the visor alone is not considered face covering as they do not provide adequate protection alone.
Any student booking a test slot on campus should complete the self-assessment tool to assess your vulnerability . From this, based on the responses you give regarding your health condition and/or disability, you will receive a Low, Moderate, or High Risk rating. This is for you to identify your personal risk.
If you have a visual or hearing impairment, please email disability@mdx.ac.uk upon your booking so that suitable arrangements can be made.
PAG04 in Portacabin A was identified as a suitable location for the testing centre and has wheelchair access throughout the building.
You will receive a message with your results by text or email, depending on which details you provided when you registered.
In most cases LFT results will be communicated within a day of the test – most likely within a few hours.
If you have not received your result after 48 hours, please return to the test site for another test.
A copy of your result will be sent to your GP. If you have tested positive, a notification will be sent to Public Health England (in England)
Middlesex University and NHS Test and Trace also takes the protection of your privacy very seriously. Find out how we use your personal data when you register for a coronavirus test.
If the test result is negative, you will then need to book your second LFT to confirm this.
As of 30 March 2021, the Asymptomatic Testing procedure guidance has updated. Now, if you receive a positive test result at an Asymptomatic Testing Centre from a Lateral Flow Device test, you must isolate and then get a confirmatory PCR test within 3 days of the LFD test, if you are not tested within the 3 day period after the LFD test you must continue to isolate as per gov guidance. If that PCR test is negative then you can carry on as normal, if positive then you must continue to isolate in line with government guidance. (please link to government guidance on isolation for testing positive)
Use 111 online or call 111 if you need medical help.
In an emergency dial 999. Please read the Government's coronavirus page for more advice.
Please inform the University by emailing the support team. Further guidance and support when self isolating is available on UniHub.
If you have been identified as being in close contact of someone who has tested positive, you need to self-isolate for a period of 10 days and follow government guidance.
No. The Lateral Flow Tests (LFTs) are different to those required by many countries for passengers arriving internationally. The requirements for international travel are set by each country. It should not be assumed that LFD testing will give international students the ability to travel abroad.
These are usually Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests (though they may be referred to as a COVID-19 certificate).
You should not be moving around at this time as England is in a national lockdown. However, if you are travelling internationally for essential reasons and your arrival country requires that you have proof of a negative COVID-19 test upon entry, you should carefully check your arrival country’s requirements for the test to ensure that you are tested using the correct type of COVID-19 test, that you receive the results in the correct time frame in accordance with your travel plans, and that you can produce the correct type of evidence.
PCR tests typically take longer to return a result but are more accurate than LFTs. The Government’s foreign travel advice site is a good place to start for more information on travelling internationally.
You must arrange a PCR test for international travel privately for which there is a fee. You must not use the free tests provided by the NHS for international travel.
You must only book a test through the NHS if you have symptoms of COVID-19. The Government does not endorse or recommend any particular private test provider. Individuals should conduct their own research about available providers, the tests they supply and their locations. You can find a list of possible providers on the Government website.
The LFT is recommended for all asymptomatic individuals including those who have tested positive for COVID-19 and completed their self-isolation (i.e. positive test occurred 10 days or more ago).
The LFT tests for the presence of antigens which might indicate residual COVID-19 infectiousness.
Middlesex University and NHS Test and Trace takes the protection of your privacy very seriously. To find out how your personal data will be used when you register for a coronavirus test read the Government’s coronavirus privacy note.
