Testing - Medical Services | Montana State University

PLEASE NOTE: Testing is no longer available at Bobcat Stadium. All tests are conducted, by appointment, at the Student Health Center on campus.

Montana State University offers free COVID-19 testing by appointment to students. Schedule a test by visiting the patient portal.

Schedule a test

MSU's COVID-19 Self-Checker can help students determine whether testing may be appropriate and where to go for a test.

Visit the Self Checker

Learn more about the symptoms of COVID-19.

Test results

Test results are typically available through the patient portal within 30-60 minutes when run on our Quidel Sofia 2 antigen-based test system. In some cases, an individual may need to have a PCR-based tested which will be run at the MT state public health laboratory in Helena, and results will take 24-72 hours to return.

If you have tested positive on an at-home test kit, visit Gallatin County's website for guidance and to report your result.

Other testing resources

Non-MSU COVID-19 testing resources are listed by the Gallatin City-County Health Department.

Travel testing

COVID-19 travel testing is not offered at the MSU Student Testing Center, but canbe obtainedat Bozeman Health by following the instructions at this link:https://www.bozemanhealth.org/about-us/covid-19-information/covid-19-travel-testing/.

Please Note

When seeking testing, please be sure to list your local address, even if it is a residence hall room, and not an address outside of Gallatin County or the state. This helps the Gallatin City-County Health Department quickly identify close contacts.

At-home tests available from federal government

As of Jan. 18, 2022, free at-home tests are available by request from the federal government. Each U.S. home can order four free kits by visiting covidtests.gov. The tests are rapid antigen tests that give results within 30 minutes without needing to be taken to a laboratory.

These tests are designed to be taken

If you are exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms.
If it has been at least five days after you've been in close contact with someone with COVID-19.
Or if you're going to gather with a group of people, especially those at risk of severe illness or who may not be up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations.

For more information on at-home testing, refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s page about self-testing for COVID-19.

If an at-home test kit says you have COVID-19:

Stay home and isolate yourself, following current CDC guidance.
Report your test results to the Gallatin City-County Health Department. Additional information on how to report is available on the county's testing page.
Get in touch with your health care provider to let them know about your test result.
On-campus resident students:Contact the Student Housing office at 406-994-2661 to make arrangements to isolate yourself.
Tell your close contacts that they have been exposed to the virus.
If your illness becomes severe, seek emergency medical care immediately.