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. 2022 Feb 1;149(12 Suppl 2):e2021054268J.
doi: 10.1542/peds.2021-054268J.

A School-Based SARS-CoV-2 Testing Program: Testing Uptake and Quarantine Length After In-School Exposures

Angelique E Boutzoukas  1   2 , Kanecia O Zimmerman  1   2   3 , Tara K Mann  2 , Ganga S Moorthy  1   2 , Ashley Blakemore  2 , Kathleen A McGann  1 , Michael J Smith  1 , Boen Nutting  4 , Karen Kerley  4 , M Alan Brookhart  5 , Laura Edwards  2 , Zsolt Rak  2 , Daniel K Benjamin  1   2   3 , Ibukunoluwa C Kalu  1
Affiliations

A School-Based SARS-CoV-2 Testing Program: Testing Uptake and Quarantine Length After In-School Exposures

Angelique E Boutzoukas et al. Pediatrics. .

Abstract

Objectives: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-related quarantines, which are required after close contact with infected individuals, have substantially disrupted in-person education for kindergarten through 12th grade (K-12) students. In recent recommendations, shortened durations of quarantine are allowed if a negative SARS-CoV-2 test result is obtained at 5 to 7 days postexposure, but access to testing remains limited. We hypothesized that providing access to in-school SARS-CoV-2 testing postexposure would increase testing and reduce missed school days.

Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted in one large public K-12 school district in North Carolina and included 2 periods: preimplementation (March 15, 2021, to April 21, 2021) and postimplementation (April 22, 2021, to June 4, 2021), defined around initiation of an in-school SARS-CoV-2 testing program in which on-site access to testing is provided. Number of quarantined students and staff, testing uptake, test results, and number of missed school days were analyzed and compared between the preimplementation and postimplementation periods.

Results: Twenty-four schools, including 12 251 in-person learners, participated in the study. During preimplementation, 446 close contacts were quarantined for school-related exposures; 708 close contacts were quarantined postimplementation. Testing uptake after school-related exposures increased from 6% to 40% (95% confidence interval: 23% to 45%) after implementation, and 89% of tests were conducted in-school. After in-school testing implementation, close contacts missed ∼1.5 fewer days of school (95% confidence interval: -2 to -1).

Conclusions: Providing access to in-school testing may be a worthwhile mechanism to increase testing uptake after in-school exposures and minimize missed days of in-person learning, thereby mitigating the pandemic's ongoing impact on children.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICT OF INTEREST DISCLOSURES: Dr Smith reports being site coinvestigator for Pfizer adult and pediatric vaccine trials. Dr Brookhart serves on scientific advisory committees for American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology; AbbVie; Amgen; Atara Biotherapeutics; Brigham and Women’s Hospital; Gilead; US Renal Data System; and Vertex, and he receives consulting fees and owns equity in NoviSci/Target RWE. Dr Benjamin reports consultancy for Allergan, Melinta Therapeutics, and Sun Pharma Advanced Research Co. Dr Kalu reports funding from Center for Disease Control and Prevention Epicenter, Consultancy, IPEC Experts, and Wayfair.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Close contacts’ missed school days. Close contacts’ missed school days before and after testing- program implementation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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