If you are using an EverlyWell Test Kit, we recommend printing or bookmarking this page for ease of reference.
Who may use the EverlyWell COVID-19 Test Home Collection Kit?
The Student Health Center (SHC), in coordination with the Tennessee Department of Health (TDOH), has the EverlyWell COVID-19 Test Home Collection Kits available for use by faculty, staff, and students who are asymptomatic or those with only mild symptoms of COVID-19 infection.
**Those with moderate to severe symptoms and those with mild to moderate symptoms who also have risk factors for the development of severe disease or hospitalization, should first call their healthcare provider.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19 infection?
People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms. Some people infected with COVID-19 experience no symptoms. Others may have symptoms ranging from mild to severe or even emergent illness. Anyone can potentially develop mild to severe or emergent symptoms. The same symptoms associated with COVID-19 infection can also be seen with other illnesses.
When occurring, symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms* may have COVID-19:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
*This list does not include all possible COVID-19 symptoms.
Those with moderate to severe symptoms and those with mild to moderate symptoms who also have risk factors for the development of severe disease or hospitalization should first call their healthcare provider.
- Students are encouraged to arrange an appointment with a SHC provider by contacting the Telephone Triage Nurse at (865) 974-5080.
- Employees should arrange an appointment with their private healthcare provider by contacting their office.
Please call your medical provider for any symptoms that are worsening, moderate to severe, or concerning to you.
Additionally, those with any emergency warning signs** for COVID-19, listed below, should not use the EverlyWell Kit. Rather, they should immediately seek emergency medical care:
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Trouble breathing
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- New confusion
- Inability to wake or stay awake
- Bluish lips or face
**This list is not all possible emergency warning signs.
Those experiencing emergency warning signs of infection should seek further evaluation and care through the nearest Emergency Room. Call 911 or call ahead to your local emergency facility: Notify the operator that you are seeking care for someone who has or may have COVID-19.
When should the kit be used?
You are requested to obtain your specimen and ship it to EverlyWell within 48 hours of receiving the kit.
Are there charges for the kit?
There are no charges for the kit or test, and no health insurance information is required.
What is included in the EverlyWell COVID-19 Home Collection Kit?
Each EverlyWell COVID-19 Home Collection Kit contains the following items for obtaining a specimen and sending the specimen to be tested:
- A United Parcel Service (UPS) mailing label for the box within which the self-collected specimen will be placed, and
- A sealed plastic package containing the following items:
- An Everlywell COVID-19 Test Home Collection Kit Overview card,
- An Everlywell COVID-19 Test Home Collection Kit registration card (registration of the kit must occur prior to specimen collection and shipping),
- An Everlywell COVID-19 Test Home Collection Kit Instruction pamphlet,
- A Nasal Specimen Swab,
- An alcohol prep pad,
- A specimen collection tube,
- A clear specimen bag,
- A biological substance bag, and
- A biological substance box (specimens must be shipped the same day they are collected).
How does one obtain a kit?
No appointment is necessary to obtain a kit, however, pre-requisite forms must be completed and approved before a kit can be issued for use.
Students may complete the Student Online EW Consent & Attestation Form through the Student Health Patient Portal, then come by the SHC during regular business hours to request a kit. An appointment is not required.
Employees may come by the SHC during regular business hours, complete hard copies of their required forms, and then obtain a kit. An appointment is not required.
Departments may also request kits for use by their employees. A Point of Contact assigned by the department must contact the SHC EverlyWell Clinic Testing Coordinator at (865) 974-2254 to receive instructions on requirements for the kit distribution and use.
Is submission of a Health & Illness Support Form required while awaiting results?
The Health & Illness support form is not require; however, staying home while you are ill is an important way to prevent the spread of illness in the community. Students who want guidance on self-isolation, instructor notifications, and other support related to health or illness related absences, can fill out the Health & Illness Support Form after shipping the sample to EverlyWell.
Where may the kit be used? The kit permits a private, convenient, and effective way of testing for COVID-19 for those who do not have symptoms. The kit is intended to be used at home and the specimen obtained by nasal swab self-collection.
How should the kit be used? Before using the kit, it must be registered online at everlywell.com/register. It is important to follow all instructions supplied with the kit. After registering the kit, follow EverlyWell’s short instructional video step by step. If the specimen is not appropriately obtained, packaged, and shipped via same-day UPS, it will not be tested by EverlyWell labs.
How should the specimen package be shipped to EverlyWell? On the same day the specimen is obtained, it must be appropriately packaged and shipped via the UPS pre-paid, pre-addressed return shipping label included in the EverlyWell kit. The specimen package must be sent via a UPS shipping location. The SHC is a shipping location for the EverlyWell kit. The specimen package may be dropped off at the designated SHC EverlyWell drop-off box in the foyer of the SHC building no later than 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Other publicly accessible UPS drop-off boxes are also available throughout the community, however, if using a UPS drop-off box other than the one provided at the SHC, it is important to make sure that the last daily pick-up at that drop-off box is after the specimen package is dropped off, not before. The last daily pick-up time for a UPS drop-box is typically noted on the drop-box. Do not deliver the specimen package to a UPS drop-box for shipping after the last daily pick-up time or on a weekend as it will invalidate the specimen and testing will not be performed.
How should the results be communicated?
When the results are available, typically within 3 business days, a confirmation text and e-mail will be directed to the individual designated as the patient from whom the specimen was obtained. Follow the instructions outlined in that communication. The results will be accessible in PDF format. Click on “Save a PDF” located in the upper right-hand corner of the results page. Then send the PDF via e-mail to medicalrecords@utk.edu from your UTK e-mail address and notify the Contact Tracing Team of your results at covidsupport@utk.edu. For additional security, in the e-mail subject lines type: ENCRYPT EverlyWell Test Results.
Important EverlyWell COVID-19 Testing Steps and Related Links:
Kit Registration – Register your EverlyWell kit prior to use at EverlyWell Kit Registration
COVID Support Form – After shipping your specimen sample, complete an UT On-line COVID Support Form, and expect contact by a representative of the COVID-19 Support Team within 24 hours.
Self-isolation requirements – Dependent on your vaccination status, while awaiting your results, you may need to self-isolate. Review information about how to isolate at: In COVID-19 Isolation
Forwarding your test results to the SHC – Upon receipt of your test results, you must forward them to the SHC at medicalrecords@utk.edu and notify the Contact Tracing Team of your results: covidsupport@utk.edu
A positive test result – If your test returns positive, you will need to isolate in accordance with the guidance provided to you by a COVID Support Team member. Review information about how to isolate at: In COVID-19 Isolation
A negative test result – If your test returns negative and you were a close contact with someone known to be diagnosed with COVID-19, you may need to quarantine, based on your vaccination status, in accordance with the guidance provided to you by a COVID Support Team member. Review information about how to quarantine at: In COVID-19 Quarantine
Special student information – If you are a student, you should review the following additional important information: COVID Info for Students, What to Do If You Are Sick, Outpatient Monoclonal Antibody Therapy, and Student Resources During Quarantine & Isolation
Special employee information – If you are an employee, you should review the following additional important information: COVID Info for Employees, What to Do If You Are Sick, Outpatient Monoclonal Antibody Therapy, and Employee Resources During Quarantine & Isolation