COVID Pooled Testing Information
February 11, 2021
Dear Loring Families,
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Sudbury Public Schools has partnered with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) to implement a free COVID-19 pooled testing program for in person students and staff at Loring.
The purpose of this letter is to share with you more about COVID pool testing and ask your permission to regularly test your child as part of a pooled testing program at our school.
Pooled testing involves mixing several individuals’ test samples together into one “pool” and then testing the pooled sample for COVID-19. This approach increases the number of individuals that can be tested at one time and allows us to regularly test our school community for COVID-19.
The pooled tests will be performed at least once per week with a shallow nasal swab for all participating students and staff members. Loring will receive the pool results within 24-48 hours. If the result of the pool is negative, then all individuals are presumed to not have COVID-19. If the result of the pool is positive, then all individuals in the pool must be retested individually. Because pooled testing does not give individual results, you will only be notified if your child requires follow-up testing. Sudbury Public Schools will be providing the Abbott BinaxNOW Rapid Antigen Diagnostic Tests for follow-up testing, so that in person students or staff in a positive pool can be tested as soon as possible and receive individual results in 15 minutes.
Loring will report all follow-up test results to DPH. We will also provide positive follow-up test results (without names or other identifying information) to DESE’s Rapid Response Help Unit.
Loring School Nurse, Tina Cirillo, and our Sudbury nursing team have been thoroughly trained on how to administer pooled testing, as well as the Abbott BinaxNOW Rapid Antigen Diagnostic Tests, if they are needed for follow-up testing. Loring will call you if your child is part of a positive pool and requires follow-up testing. Loring will also notify you of the individual follow-up test results and if your child is positive or negative and what to do in each scenario.
Additionally, all students will learn more about Pool Testing in their classrooms and be able to view a video, “Let’s Crack the COVID Case!” with their class before pool testing begins which we have included below. Please feel free to share this with your family at home.
Any student participating in pool testing must have prior permission from a parent/guardian.
To give permission for your student to participate in the COVID-19 Pooled Testing Program, including consent to transmit student information via the pooled testing technology platform, consent for any necessary follow up tests, and consent to share the test result information with the Department of Public Health and Project Beacon (a third party [non-profit] organization contracted to compile consent for testing and to share test results), please complete the permission form. A separate permission form is required for each student. Please submit your permission as soon as possible and by Monday, February 22 at the latest.
Click here to give permission for your child(ren) to participate in pool testing.
I am extremely grateful to our committed staff and families that continue to show great flexibility and resilience as we navigate this school year. It takes all of us working together to contain the spread of this virus. I am excited to add pooled testing as another mitigation strategy for our school community, as we continue to work together toward the safe return of all students and staff to school.
If you have questions regarding the COVID-19 Pooled Testing Program please contact Tina Cirillo or me.
Sincerely,
Sara Harvey
More Information
Contact Us
Email: loring_office@sudbury.k12.ma.us
Website: http://www.sudbury.k12.ma.us/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=52&Itemid=222
Location: 80 Woodside Road, Sudbury, MA, USA
Phone: 978-579-0870
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