Testing for the TCC Community

SHS offers TCC students convenient saliva PCR testing on-demand at vending machines across campus and at SHS services during business hours. Students concerned with exposure to Covid, experiencing symptoms or worried they may have Covid may seek out testing.

Testing Process

Testing is being done using the University of Illinois’ ShieldT3 saliva PCR test. Due to a change in the lab process and location, test results will now take an additional 24 hours to come back, so please expect up to a two-day turnaround time to receive your results. Test results will be posted to an electronic portal that you will need to login to using your single sign on. If you consented, you will receive a text message notifying you when your results are available in the portal.

Anyone testing positive with the test will be presumed to have COVID-19 infection and asked to immediately isolate themselves, as per public health guidelines.

You will be contacted by the Contact Tracing department with further instructions and to determine whether you might have been in close contact with others while you were on campus. You will need to complete your isolation period and will not be allowed back on campus until you have been cleared by your primary care doctor (employees) or Student Health Services (students). After a laboratory confirmed case of COVID-19, you will be exempted from the COVID-19 screening program for a period of 3 (three) months.

ShieldT3 Saliva PCR Test

For the ShieldT3 Saliva PCR Test, you will provide a tube of saliva to test for COVID-19 infection.
Don’t eat, drink, chew gum or smoke within 60 mins of test—this can cause discoloration which would require you to retest. Saliva samples should be clear and filled to the proper volume. You will have to repeat the test if your tube has discoloration, mucus, or particles.

ShieldT3 Saliva PCR Test Video
Saliva Samples Diagram Here