COVID-19 Testing FAQ

Students may pick up binx self-collection nasal swab test kits at the following campus locations:

University Center, New Store
63 Fifth Avenue 
Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 1:00-4:00 p.m. (except on university holidays)

Loeb Hall Mailroom
135 East 12th Street 
Monday-Friday, 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. (except on university holidays)

Be prepared to show your New School ID card when you arrive to pick up a test kit. Students who have not yet received their ID card should contact Campus Card Services at newcard@newschool.edu to request one. If you are under 18, you must have a parent or guardian complete and sign this consent form and return it to newschoolconsents@mybinxhealth.com in order to participate in the binx testing program.

Students who are temporarily living in Stuyvesant Park Hall will receive a test kit at their suite door during their quarantine period.

Off-campus students should return their completed test kit by dropping it in the mail slot at the University Center New Store. Residential students may put their test kit in the drop box in their residence hall lobby. Test kits may only be returned to a drop box Monday through Friday during scheduled hours; drop-offs are not permitted on Saturday and Sunday. Students must drop off their test kit on the same day they have activated it and completed their nasal swab or it will be rejected by the lab.

Students can pick up a test kit on any day during the scheduled pick-up hours and return it to a designated drop-off location another day. However, you must activate your test and complete the nasal swab on the same day that you plan to return the test kit or it will be rejected by the lab. 

Health and government officials continue to strongly urge people to avoid non-essential travel, but if travel cannot be avoided, please review the Spring Break Travel Guide for information about the university's testing and quarantine requirements for returning to campus after travel. 

No. The university is providing binx self-collection nasal swab test kits to students for free. 

Once you have picked up your test kit, you must activate it at mybinxhealth.com/activate before completing the nasal swab. The activation process differs for first-time users and those who have previously taken a binx test. 

If you are under 18, you must have a parent or guardian complete and sign this consent form and return it to newschoolconsents@mybinxhealth.com in order to participate in the binx testing program.

First-Time Binx Test User

1. If you are a first-time binx user, click on the "Activate Box" button in the top-right corner of the binx website.
2. Next, click on the button titled "I have not activated or ordered a binx box before." 
3. Then, enter your activation code located on the sample identification label included in your kit. 
4. Click the "Activate" button. You will then be asked to create an account and complete questionnaires required by the Food and Drug Administration and Health and Human Services agencies.

view the test activation infographic for more information. 

During account creation, please use your New School email address. If you have properly activated your sample collection kit, you will receive an email from ‘binx notifications’. You must use this account each time you activate a binx test kit. If you do not activate your kit, your test will be rejected by the lab.

Previous Binx Test User
If you have previously taken a binx test, log into your account using your New School email address and password on the binx website.

Once logged in, click on the "Activate Box" button in the top-right corner of the page, enter your activation code located on the sample identification label included in your kit and click the "Activate" button.

Upon successful activation, you will receive an email from binx. You must activate every test before completing the nasal swab; if you do not activate your kit, your test will be rejected by the lab. 

For questions related to your binx self-collection nasal swab test kit contents, setting up your account, activating your kit through the online portal, and using the kits, contact binx customer support seven days a week from 6:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. EST.

Chat via the binx website or email support@mybinxhealth.com

• Weekdays 3:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. EST
• Weekends and Holidays 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. EST

Or call 844.692.4691 (844.MYBINX1)

• Support available 24/7

All binx nasal swab tests must be completed in the privacy of your suite or home. Students are prohibited from completing the nasal swab in any campus facilities.

Students must use their New School email address when registering their test kit.

For questions related to your binx self-collection nasal swab test kit contents, setting up your account, activating your kit through the online portal, and using the kits, contact binx customer support seven days a week from 6:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. EST.

Chat via the binx website or email support@mybinxhealth.com

• Weekdays 3:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. EST
• Weekends and Holidays 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. EST

Or call 844.692.4691 (844.MYBINX1)

• Support available 24/7

View the test activation and nasal swab instruction infographics for additional information.

Test results will be communicated to students within approximately three days. Students who received a negative test result will hear directly from binx. Those students who tested positive will be contacted by Student Health Services.  

Student Health Services will contact students who receive a positive binx test result. Remain in your suite (residential students) or living space (off-campus students). Residential students must contact their Residence Director at kerreyhall@newschool.edu or loebhall@newschool.edu. We strongly encourage all students to schedule a prompt telehealth appointment with one of our medical providers at shsportal.newschool.edu.

• Students should behave as if they have been infected and can infect others while you are waiting for your results
• Do not leave your suite or living space; remain in an isolated room alone.
• Wear a face covering if you enter common areas and avoid contact with others, including roommates
• Wash your hands before leaving your room or when coming into contact with others.
• Schedule a telehealth appointment with a Student Health Services medical professional on the SHS Portal.

Residential Students
Residential students are required to complete phase one PCR testing prior to arriving on campus and phase two entry testing seven days following arrival. Students will then be required to complete a binx self-collection nasal swab testing every seven (7) days. For more information about the residential student testing requirements, visit the Screening and Testing  section of the COVID-19 Community Guide.

Off-Campus Student Entry Testing
Students who complete their first test with an outside provider must submit their results. Once you submit your results, you will receive written clearance from Student Health Services within three business days that you are approved to reserve campus spaces and attend in-person class (if applicable). Those who use a binx self-collection nasal swab test kit do not need to submit their results, but must follow the instructions in the Testing FAQ to activate and complete their test kit. If you receive a negative test result, you will receive an email notification from binx within 72 hours and can make a campus space reservation or attend in-person class (if applicable).

If you receive a positive test result, Student Health Services will contact you with further instructions. If you do not complete your test within seven days prior to your desired reservation date, you will be unable to make a reservation or attend in-person class until you obtain an updated COVID-19 test.

For more information about the off-campus student testing requirements, visit the Screening and Testing section of the COVID-19 Community Guide. 

Ongoing Campus Access
For ongoing access to campus, students will be required to complete a binx self-collection nasal swab test kit every 14 days. Test kits are available for pick-up in the University Center and Loeb Hall. Failure to cooperate may result in loss of access to campus facilities.

Intermittent Campus Access
Students who plan to visit campus intermittently (less than once a week) must take a PCR COVID-19 test 7 days prior to each desired campus space reservation date or in-person class (if applicable). If you are only coming to campus to pick up or drop off equipment or library books, you are not required to obtain a COVID-19 test for that purpose but will be required to complete the Daily Symptom Screening Questionnaire on the day you pick up or return items.

All students must use the free binx self-collection nasal swab test kit for their testing needs except in the following instances: testing before your first visit to campus or pre-approved exceptions for other PCR tests.

Students can contact Student Health Services at covidtesting@newschool.edu.

COVID-19 testing is required to ensure the safety of our community and our neighbors to the greatest extent possible when an on-campus presence is needed.