Testing program helps Illinois College get back on the gridiron Dennis Mathes, dmathes@myjournalcourier.com FacebookTwitterEmail Thanks to a COVID-19 test developed by the University of Illinois, sports teams at Illinois College have returned to play. IC has partnered with the SHIELD Illinois testing program, a screening testing program and infrastructure that deploys the U of I’s innovative saliva test across the state. Results are fast and accurate. Illinois College students have been taking the test once a week since they returned to class January 20. Student-athletes are tested as many as three times a week for sports categorized as high risk by the NCAA.