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    • Health & Safety
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Health & Safety

Health & Safety

  • How We Are Keeping You Safe
  • Quarantine Policies for Students Arriving or Returning On- or Off-Campus
  • Testing Information
  • Add Crimson Clear to Your Smartphone

Testing Information

Testing Information

Page Updated: 12 Feb 2021(No updates in last 10 days)
Page Updated: 12 Feb 2021
(No updates in last 10 days)
Harvard University has shifted to unobserved, self-administered COVID-19 testing. That means eligible community members will follow the same swabbing process used in observed testing, but you can test in the privacy of your residence, office, or another place on campus where you can be alone.

Picking Up Your Test

Regular Hours

  • Chao Center guest services desk (M-F 8am-5pm); after hours (M-F 5pm-10pm) and weekends (Sa-Su 2pm-10pm)
  • Spangler Center 2nd floor service counter (M-F 8am-5pm)
  • Shad Fitness counter (M-F 10am-6pm)
  • Morgan Hall Coffee Cart – For faculty and staff only; (Tu, Wed, Th 8am–12pm)
  • Please note: HBS residence hall residents can pick up every Friday from Pack City at OSS

Please do not open and take your test at the pick-up locations. Your test should be done at home or in a private location the same day you plan to drop it off.

Taking Your Test Sample

Take the self-administered test training (login required) in the Harvard Training Portal or follow the instructions in the kit. Please note you must activate your kit and take your swab on the same day you plan to drop it off. To check your testing cadence in Crimson Clear – select name and Profile, and then look under COVID Testing Info > Testing Group.

Dropping Off Your Completed Test

The following drop-off locations are located on the HBS campus. You can find a map of all Harvard drop locations on this Google map. You will not have access to other bins at Harvard.

Regular Hours
Drop-off bins are available in the following locations:


  • Chao Center guest services desk (M-F 8am-5pm); after hours (M-F 5pm-10pm) and weekends (Sa-Su 2pm-10pm)
  • Spangler Center, 1st floor east rotunda (M-F 8am-5pm) and weekends (Sa-Su 9am-3pm)
  • Shad Hall Fitness counter (M-F 10am-6pm)
  • Rock Center student mailbox area (24/7)


Make every effort to drop off your test as soon after you have taken your swab as possible, and before noon to ensure your results are returned quickly. Bins are picked up regularly throughout the day, but not overnight. It is critical that you activate the test kit on color.com/activate and make sure your tube is securely closed and sealed in the zipped bag before placing it in the collection bin.

Understanding Your Test Results

The Broad Institute tests all of the Color COVID-19 self-swab kits collected from the Harvard community and works with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to review and refine its methodology for interpreting lab results to align with emergent best practices. Color, the health technology company partnering with The Broad Institute for Harvard's COVID-19 testing, will send you an email and text notification when your results are available. See the Keep Harvard Healthy site for details on the different kinds of test results, including Negative, Positive and Unsatisfactory Sample.

Testing Positive and Isolation/Close Contact Quarantine

See FAQ for answers to questions about testing positive, contact tracing, isolation, and medical quarantine (which is different than travel quarantine).

  • Harvard University Health Services Contact Tracing
  • Harvard University Testing Dashboard

Contact Tracing

One of the primary goals of viral testing is to identify infected individuals as early as possible and to isolate them from the broader community. If an individual tests positive, Harvard University Health Services (HUHS) will begin contact tracing for the greater Harvard community. Anyone with known exposure to a positive case will be required to quarantine and may need additional testing, as these individuals may also be infected.

  • Harvard University Health Services Contact Tracing
  • Harvard University Testing Dashboard

Eligibility Troubleshooting

Only students, essential staff, and faculty who have permission to be on campus are eligible. Students in the residence halls are in A category (3 times/week). Other students in the Boston area are in B category (2 times/week). Faculty and staff who are on campus on average for more than 4 hours/week are in B, C, or D categories depending on their particular needs.

  • To confirm if you are eligible: Log into Crimson Clear, view your profile (upper right corner) and check if you are listed as eligible in the “Testing Group” section of your profile.
  • If you are eligible in Crimson Clear, next check that Crimson Clear has your current Harvard email address on file. For contractors, this may be your home company email address, e.g., xxxx@yourcompany.com. Use this email address in the color.com organizational email address verification dialog.
    • If the address is incorrect or you continue to get the “ineligible” error, contact support@color.com or call 844.352.6567 to reset your email to current Harvard email account.
  • If you are ineligible in Crimson Clear, but believe you are eligible, please contact your eligibility manager.
    • Students: Contact coronavirus@hbs.edu.
    • Faculty: Contact Jean Cunningham (jcunningham@hbs.edu)
    • Staff: Contact your department head or HR partner.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Where can I see which test group I’m assigned to?
  • Go to https://crimsonclear.harvard.edu and login with your Harvard Key. 
  • In the upper right corner, select your name and Profile.   
  • Look under COVID Testing Information > Testing Group.  
Can I pick up a test kit on the weekend?
Security staffs Chao 5-10pm M-F, 2-10pm S-S. They can distribute kits as needed.
Can I drop off a test kit on the weekend?
The collection bin in the Student Mail Center at OSS in the basement of the Rock Center is open 24/7.
What if I received a broken kit or lost the one I had?
Pick up a replacement kit at a distribution location listed above.
What if I am a student who is no longer coming to campus?
If you want to pause your testing schedule because you are currently not coming to campus, email coronavirus@hbs.edu and provide an explanation of your circumstances. If you choose to return to campus, you must notify ccoronavirus@hbs.edu ASAP so you can be added back into the testing protocol.
Should I do an unobserved test if I am feeling unwell?
Unobserved baseline viral tests are intended only for asymptomatic assessment. If you’re experiencing symptoms of any kind, please call HUHS at 617-495-5711. You can also note your symptoms in Crimson Clear and a clinician will reach out to you. Do not come to campus if you are symptomatic.
Is direct contact needed at distribution?
No, the kits will be placed on the table or counter for pickup, and your ID card will be scanned using a smartphone or tablet without contact.
What if I’m uncomfortable with unobserved testing?
Testing is always available in person at the Science Center. Be sure to register.
I have had COVID-19 and may continue to test positive. What do I do?
Please contact HUHS, and they will adjust your testing cadence. Community members who have tested positive for COVID 19 are generally excluded from testing for 90 days. Please continue to use Crimson Clear daily.
Who do I contact if I encounter problems with Color?
Contact support@color.com or 844.352.6567.
Having a problem with your Harvard Key login?
Contact Harvard University IT at 617-495-7777.
Having trouble logging in with your HBS login or email account?
Contact HBS Technology Support Services at 617-495-6600.
Stuck in a loop seeing previous results and can’t activate a kit?
Go to  color.com/activate for direct access to the activation screen.
Having trouble entering information into Color?
Switch to a different web browser or try on a different device.
What should I do if I receive a result of 'unsatisfactory sample' or ‘inconclusive sample’?
Please re-test as soon as possible, being sure to activate the kit, blow your nose before collecting your sample (to ensure that there’s no solid debris on the swab), seal the tube cap carefully and fully, and ensure that the zip lock bag is properly sealed.
→More Frequently Asked Questions
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