Point of care SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid testing in schools improves school attendance

Wellcome Open Research

article

Dami A. Collier¹  Rachel Bousfield¹  Effrossyni Gkrania-Klotsas⁴  Ravindra K. Gupta¹ 

[1]Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease

[2]Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge

[3]Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London

[4]Department of Infectious Diseases, Cambridge University Hospitals

[5]MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge

[6]Africa Health Research Institute

关键词: SARS-CoV-2;    school;    testing;    rapid;    point of care;   

DOI  :  10.12688/wellcomeopenres.17213.2

学科分类：内科医学

来源: Wellcome

【 摘 要 】

Background: National lockdowns have led to significant interruption to children’s education globally. In the Autumn term in 2020, school absence in England and Wales was almost five times higher than the same period in 2019. Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in schools and ongoing interruption to education remains a concern. However, evaluation of rapid point of care (POC) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing in British schools has not been undertaken.Methods: This is a survey of secondary schools in England that implemented PCR-based rapid POC testing. The study aims to measure the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in schools, to assess the impact of this testing on school attendance and closures, and to describe schools experiences with testing. All schools utilised the SAMBA II SARS-CoV-2 testing platform.Results: 12 fee-paying secondary schools in England were included. Between September 1st 2020 and December 16th 2020, 697 on site rapid POC PCR tests were performed and 6.7% of these were positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection. There were five outbreaks in three schools during this time which were contained. Seven groups of close contacts within the school known as bubbles had to quarantine but there were no school closures. 84% of those tested were absent from school for less than one day whilst awaiting their test result. This potentially saved between 1047 and 1570 days off school in those testing negative compared to the NHS PCR laboratory test. Schools reported a positive impact of having a rapid testing platform as it allowed them to function as fully as possible during this pandemic.Conclusions: Rapid POC PCR testing platforms should be widely available and utilised in school settings. Reliable positive tests will prevent outbreaks and uncontrolled spread of infection within school settings. Reliable negative test results will reassure students, parents and staff and prevent disruption to education.

【 授权许可】

CC BY