Pooled testing is performed by combining (pooling) samples from multiple people and testing them together in the lab. Pooled testing is most helpful in areas where the COVID-19 transmission rate is low, and thus most respiratory samples are expected to be negative for the virus. Our lab does two types of pooling.

Individual Test: Students or staff collect their sample and package individually on-site. When the samples arrive at Aegis, the lab combines the samples into pools and tests each pool as a single sample. For negative pools, all individuals are negative, and the results are released to the school. For positive pools, Aegis reflex-tests every individual sample separately. Students and staff all receive an individual result.

Pooled Test: A group of up to 10 students or staff collects their samples and combines them into a single, pooled sample on-site. Aegis tests each pool as one single sample and reports whether the pool is positive or negative. If the pool is positive, a follow-up test for each student or staff member in the pool will be needed to determine their individual results.

Testing samples in pools helps save time, money and laboratory resources. This allows the lab to test more samples at once and provides a larger number of results more quickly, which is helpful for schools to maintain normal operations. The reduction in resources allows for pooled testing to be completed at a much lower cost than individual testing. Testing in pools helps support increased in-person education.

Results from our Individual Tests allow only those individuals with positive tests to quarantine and greatly reduce contact tracing efforts. For Pooled Tests, those within a positive pool group must quarantine.

Schools can sign up at TestingWorks.com by filling out the contact form. We will follow up promptly to help schools develop and implement a plan that fits their student body.

Our labs will send you testing kits for staff and students with detailed instructions. Students will be observed by school staff during the collection process. If you don’t have the staff or time to collect, we can even provide collection support. Trust us – it’s easy!

Each kit includes collection instructions, nasal swabs, transport tube and barcode label(s). Additionally, we provide a set of gloves and alcohol wipes with each kit.

Testing frequency may depend on the number of COVID-19 cases in a given area. Local public health officials and the CDC are great resources for deciding the best testing frequency for your school. Anyone showing symptoms of COVID-19 or those who have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19 should be tested. Students and staff who have not been vaccinated may need routine testing.

The whole process usually takes around 20 minutes and can be broken down into these simple steps:

Set Up: Gather supplies to set up a collection station.

Collect Samples: Each test takes around 15 seconds, and multiple students can collect their samples at one time. We recommend students be supervised in relatively small groups. This lets them maintain a safe distance and makes sure each student completes the test correctly.

Pack Up & Clean Up: Pack up the kits to send to our labs. Schools can save untouched supplies for future use, but any supplies that have been touched should be discarded. Remember to sanitize your hands after testing is done!

The teacher’s role is at the discretion of the school based on the availability of other staff or a school nurse who may play a role in the testing process. The staff who do participate in testing will execute on-site logistics, including checking for parental consent, observing students as they self-collect and packaging samples for shipment to the lab.

Results are available within 24 hours or better turnaround time. Yes, that’s fast!

This will vary by school, and our team will work with you to determine the safest next steps. If the samples are pooled at our lab, each student or staff receives an individual positive/negative result, no follow-up test is needed, and contact tracing occurs only for positive individuals.

If the samples are pooled on-site, additional contact tracing occurs for the students in the pool (up to 10) and we recommend that the families in positive pools quarantine and receive a follow-up test.

The price for an individual test through TestingWorks! varies based on the testing options selected. However, schools have a variety of funding options that allow the testing to be performed at no overall cost to the school or students.

There are several funding options available for schools for testing. OpenAndSafeSchools.org is a great resource for understanding funding options, testing toolkits and connecting with other school districts on the Peer-to-Peer hub. Some funding options include:

• CDC’s Epidemiology Laboratory and Capacity (ELC) Cooperative Agreement, which allocated $10 billion to states and territories for school testing
• Increasing Community Access to Testing (ICATT), which directly supports schools in high-need areas
• Operation Expand Testing (ET) which will establish three or four regional coordination hubs to expand K–8 testing programs through $650 million in funding

Yes! Consent and privacy are as important as testing. Parents will be asked to sign a consent form on behalf of their children. Consent is available electronically or by paper and all managed in a central location to make it as easy as possible. We can even send reminders to parents about upcoming testing through email, text or robo-call. Our team can help walk you through this process.