CLEVELAND — Case Western Reserve University students can now obtain a COVID-19 test kit via vending machines, located on campus.  

What You Need To Know

  • 12 vending machines on the Case Western Reserve University campus have COVID-19 test kits

  • The COVID-19 tests are free for students and staff

  • More options are coming soon

"The idea is that students, faculty and staff can access COVID-19 tests at anytime of the day," said Megan Koeth, executive director of the university's Department of Resiliency, which handles emergency management and emergency communications as part of Case Western's Division of Public Safety.

Koeth is part of the team that converted 12 regular vending machines across campus to carry PCR tests. 

"We are constantly refilling the vending machines," said Koeth, "and we have a team dedicated to go around and fill them."

These tests are free to all students and faculty. 

Koeth said the idea actually came from the University of California in Los Angeles, which began offering self-administered COVID-19 tests in on-campus vending machines ​last summer.

Thanks to CWRU's health and science capabilities, there is a quick turnaround for results. 

"We have a lab here on campus that runs all of our tests, so we get the results back really fast, usually in about 24 hours you know whether or not you’re negative or positive," Koeth explained.

She added that there are plans to soon implement more options in vending machines, such as N-95 masks. 

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