Saliva tests in schools: how's it going?

The deployment of these large-scale salivary tests follows the favorable opinion of the High Authority for Health (HAS) delivered on 11 February 2021. To accelerate this screening campaign and help school nurses perform saliva testing in schools, 1,700 mediators will be recruited from medical and pharmacy students.

For whom?

Salivary testing is primarily reserved for preschool and elementary school students, for whom nasopharyngeal sampling may be more difficult. Tests can also be carried out in secondary schools and colleges, as part of epidemiological studies. Staff at schools and institutions where the saliva testing campaign is taking place have the opportunity to be tested.

How does a salivary RT-PCR test work?

The student spits in a tube that is sent to a laboratory within five hours. If spitting is difficult, saliva can be obtained from under the tongue with a pipette. The saliva sample is stored in a dry, sterile vial at room temperature. It must be analyzed within 24 hours of collection.

The result is delivered by the laboratory in the same timeframe as that of a nasopharyngeal RT-PCR test. It doesn't buy time. Its main interest is its ease of use. For children, it is less unpleasant than a swab sample from the nostrils.

How are salivary tests organized in schools?

The scheme covers students in Area A since 22 February 2021, students in Area C since 1^er March 2021 and finally those in zone B since March 8, 2021.

These tests are organized randomly and repeatedly, especially in areas where the virus is circulating widely, with a goal of testing 300,000 children per week.

During sampling operations, the laboratory shall bring all necessary equipment to the establishment. Laboratory staff must be present during the first sampling operation and may be present for subsequent operations. During the first procedure, they present screening and train staff to supervise the sample. Afterwards, the supervision of samples is always done in the presence of National Education staff, so as not to leave the students alone with a member of a laboratory. Health personnel from the National Education Department are also present to supervise the samples. If it cannot be present, reinforcements are planned, as for antigen tests (other health personnel, rescue workers, etc.).

Are these tests mandatory?

Saliva tests at school are not mandatory. The parents are informed and they have to give their consent. The results are given by the laboratory in charge of the analysis within 24 hours to the parents (or legal representatives of the pupils) and to the departmental doctors advisers of the National Education. If the test is positive, variants are routinely tested.

What if the test is positive?

If the test is positive, parents should inform the principal. The pupil is placed in isolation and must not go to school before the following period:

• 10 full days from the day of positive sampling for asymptomatic cases;
• 10 full days from symptom onset with no fever for symptomatic cases. In case of fever on 7^e isolation continues until 48 hours after the symptoms disappear.

Find here the details of the rules concerning the closure of classes.