Q: What is SHIELD Illinois? |
A: SHIELD Illinois is a non-invasive, saliva-based COVID-19 test that has received emergency
use authorization (EUA) from the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The process requires individuals to simply deposit saliva in a vial, which usually
takes less than five minutes, and results will be provided directly to you within
48 hours.
This service is provided free of charge to the CSU campus community, students, faculty,
and staff who do not provide proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are
required to get tested twice a week.
This testing is intended for those who do not feel sick. It is surveillance testing
meant to allow CSU to quickly identify if cases may be starting to rise within the
CSU campus community. If you feel sick, contact your primary care doctor to determine
the best course of action.
Q: When & where can I access the test? |
A: For most current location & hours.
Testing instructions
Immediately before the test: Individuals should not eat, drink (including water),
chew gum, smoke, or use tobacco products within 60 minutes before providing a saliva sample. Doing any of these things within 60 minutes of providing a sample could produce an inconclusive result and require the individual
to re-test.
Create your MySHIELD account
To be tested you must create a MySHIELD account, which should be done at the testing
site through your mobile device. Staff will provide instructions and will be able
to assist in account creation.
If you ned to create a new account, please show up to the testing site a few minutes
early.
Q: Who can and should get tested? |
A: This service is provided free of charge to the CSU campus community. All non-vaccinated
students and faculty/staff (CSU faculty/staff must receive an exemption from HR) are
required to participate in surveillance testing twice a week starting Aug. 23, 2021
Q: Should I get tested if I feel sick? |
A: SHIELD testing is intended for those who do not feel sick. It is surveillance testing
meant to allow CSU to quickly identify if cases may be starting to rise within the
CSU campus community. If you feel sick, contact your primary care doctor to determine
the best course of action.
Q: How to create a SHIELD Illinois Account? |
A: To be tested you must create a MySHIELD account, which should be done at the testing
site through your mobile device. Staff will provide instructions and will be able
to assist in account creation.
If you need to create a new account, please show up to the testing site a few minutes
early.
Q: What if I'm having problems with the testing system? |
Q: Call the Shield Help Desk at 217-265-6059 for assistance. Remember your SHIELD username and password, as you will need it to
make appointments in the future. If this is NOT your first time using SHIELD Illinois
testing at CSU, you will login with your SHIELD username and password to see your
results and/or to make another appointment.
Schedule your test
Once you create your account, you can schedule your test. Again, this service will
be available four times a week in the Library Cafe. Follow these instructions to schedule
a testing appointment:
Scheduling your COVID-19 test
- Once on your MySHIELD portal, select “Schedule an Appointment” from the menu
- Select Shield Chicago State University
- Select an appointment time slot
- Collection site hours of operation will differ from the schedule on your MySHIELD
portal, but schedule within the hours listed above.
- Verify your personal information
- Schedule it!
Q: What kind of test is it? |
A: The test is saliva-based, is non-invasive, and only takes a few minutes to do.
Individuals should not eat, drink (including water), chew gum, smoke, or consume tobacco
products for one hour prior to the test.
This Molecular LDT COVID‐19 Test is designed for use in a single laboratory to detect
the virus that causes COVID‐19 in respiratory specimens, such as saliva. The testing
method uses a novel PCR method developed at the University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign.
Q: What is the efficacy of the test? |
A: The saliva test has a specificity of 99.8-99.9%, with very few false positives. Studies
to date are consistent with this saliva test not being less accurate than a nasal
test.
Q: Does the test detect the new variants of COVID-19? |
A: Yes. The saliva test developed by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign detects
the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, including new variants that have been identified
to date.
Q: What does my test result mean? |
A:
Negative: The virus was not detected.
Invalid: The sample was non-optimal and could not produce appropriate data during
testing at the lab. (Invalid results typically occur when non-optimal saliva samples
are submitted. Before your next test, please be sure to refrain from eating, drinking,
tooth brushing, mouth washing, or tobacco use for at least 1 hour prior to submitting
your saliva sample. For best results, it is recommended to hydrate during the morning
and get tested in the afternoon.)
Positive: The virus was detected.
Inconclusive: The sample was able to be processed in the lab, but was not able to definitively
provide a detected or not detected result.
Rejected: The sample was not able to begin the testing process in the lab. (This is likely
due to low sample volume, the cap coming off the tube in transport or other damage
to the tube, and/or extremely poor sample quality. Before your next test, please be
sure to refrain from eating, drinking, tooth brushing, mouth washing, or tobacco use
for at least 1 hour prior to submitting your saliva sample. For best results, it is
recommended to hydrate during the morning and get tested in the afternoon.)
Q: I already had COVID-19. Should I get tested? |
A: People who have tested positive should not re-test for 90 days from the date of their
positive test. If it has been longer than 90 days since a positive test, you should
be tested.
Q: What if I have more questions? |
A: If you have any general questions about the testing, please email shield@CSU.edu.
If you are having issues signing into the portal or creating an account, call SHIELD
IL Help at 217-265-6059. This is a 24/7 service. They will not release results, but
they can assist people with access and supply reactivation codes/unlock accounts for
patients.
Remember, MySHIELDIllinois is NOT to be used for urgent needs. For medical emergencies,
dial 911.