Pooled testing, when designed and managed correctly in schools, offers a way to keep schools open for in-person learning with minimal disruption

Pooled COVID-19 testing in schools? Here’s what to know before diving in


Pooled testing, when designed and managed correctly in schools, offers a way to keep schools open for in-person learning with minimal disruption

Enabling K-12 schools to reopen for in-person learning is a priority for many teachers, administrators, parents, communities, and governments. But health and safety–both for students and school employees–is a top concern. Just as with the general population, regular COVID-19 testing can help identify cases early, even among asymptomatic individuals.

President Biden recently launched the National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness. This program provides funds for COVID-19 testing for teachers, staff, and students in an effort to create a safer return-to-school environment at no cost to parents or the school system. And best practices suggest that pooled testing on a weekly basis can create an easy-to-implement, safe environment that lets teachers and kids put the focus back on education.

So, what is pooled testing and what do school administrators and teachers need to know? Before you dive in, here’s everything you need to know about pooled testing.

What is pooled COVID-19 testing?

Pooled COVID-19 testing combines swabs from consenting individuals in a group and runs them as a single test. In the school environment, classrooms provide a natural method for pooling students (and their teacher) into an easily tracked group, but clubs, sports teams or other groups might also be appropriate. Collection can be self-administered, does not require specialized personal protective equipment, and typically takes less than 10 minutes once per week with results returned within 24 hours. Student privacy is protected in pooled testing as well, since individual identities are not revealed within the pool.

For example: If all the third-grade students are in one pool and the pooled test is negative, then it can be assumed that all third-grade students are negative. If the pooled test is positive, students are then quarantined and individually tested to narrow down the positive case(s). Because of this step, pools should be 5 to 25 people per pool–small enough that individual testing can be done quickly in the case of a positive test result.  

With weekly testing, this reduces the potential spread of COVID-19 even in the event that a pool tests positive. And students who test negative within a positive pool can return to school immediately, reducing or eliminating any lost in-person time. Approximately 1.5 percent of pools across the country currently test positive. This approach allows the majority of students and teachers to safely return to full-time in-classroom learning while minimizing the risk of a major outbreak.  

Do all students need to participate?

CDC data shows infection and hospitalization rates among U.S. children ages 14-17 rising, with children 6-13 closer to the national average. While vaccinations for younger groups may slow this trend, vaccines are not yet approved for children under 12. According to district supervisors already doing pooled testing, most parents participate because regular, proactive testing offers peace of mind that students are less likely to get ill or bring COVID-19 home to other family members.

Schools should clearly communicate the testing process and protocol to parents, also explaining that there is no cost to participate, and your test provider can provide materials to aid in this communication. Schools may want to consider additional options, like mandating vaccines or masks for students who opt out of testing. But state- and district-level policies may differ on vaccines and masks so make sure you have a clear understanding of all options available. Accommodations also may need to be addressed for any students with special requirements.

How do schools administer the tests?

The K-12 National Testing Action Program (NTAP) recommends weekly testing of individual pools. Depending on the size of the school, tests can be administered all on the same day, or staggered by pool. School personnel can be easily trained to operate and monitor on-site sample collection, and most students can perform the nasal swab collection themselves with adult oversight. For students, the nasal swab is less invasive than the familiar deep swab available at testing sites, so it is easy for younger students, even kindergartners, to use. To date, thousands of schools are already testing regularly. For additional resources, view this checklist that the CDC and Shah Foundation have developed to help schools get started.

How fast do schools get the test results?

Training and setup to do pooled testing typically take a few weeks. Once school personnel are familiar with the process, pools can be created, collected, and administered in a matter of minutes. Pooled samples are packaged according to the instructions from the testing facility and samples are sent immediately to the lab. The Helix lab maintains, on average, a 24-hour turnaround time for samples, meaning that results are available quickly in order to act on any positive pool result or individual test. The lab also has the ability to conduct rapid follow-up for individual testing.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) program is working with clinical labs to ensure that school testing is available across the U.S. The country’s largest COVID-19 testing labs have been engaged, allowing hundreds of thousands of samples to be tested every day.

How do teams get started with pooled COVID-19 testing?

In order to effectively roll out and manage pooled COVID-19 testing, districts and schools should first create a plan for testing. It’s important to consider your own student make-up, volume of students, and ages in order to design a program that works for all students. Keep in mind that smaller pools are easier to manage in case a pool needs to be individually tested. Younger students may need more oversight than older ones. Also, plan to pool students into groups that have minimal cross-contact.

School administrators should identify a testing oversight team, a weekly testing team, and include all relevant health and safety team members. Before starting any testing, make sure to contact parents or guardians to confirm participation, and put a plan in place for any non-participants or students with other needs. Designate sample collection areas within the school and create any signage or instructional information needed to help students administer their own swabs. Testing partners can assist with set-up as needed.

Sign up for our K-12 newsletter

Newsletter: Innovations in K12 Education
By submitting your information, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Want to share a great resource? Let us know at submissions@eschoolmedia.com.

New AI Resource Center
Get the latest updates and insights on AI in education to keep you and your students current.
Get Free Access Today!

"*" indicates required fields

Hidden
Hidden
Hidden
Hidden
Hidden
Hidden
Hidden
Hidden
Hidden
Hidden
Email Newsletters:

By submitting your information, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

eSchool News uses cookies to improve your experience. Visit our Privacy Policy for more information.