Results of WICOVIR Gargle Pool PCR Testing in German Schools Based on the First 100,000 Tests
Background: Opening schools and keeping children safe from SARS-CoV-2 infections at the same time is urgently needed to protect children from direct and indirect consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. To achieve this goal, a safe, efficient, and cost-effective SARS-CoV-2 testing system for schools i...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Pediatrics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2021.721518/full |
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| author | Parastoo Kheiroddin Patricia Schöberl Patricia Schöberl Michael Althammer Ezgi Cibali Ezgi Cibali Thea Würfel Hannah Wein Birgit Kulawik Birgit Kulawik Heike Buntrock-Döpke Heike Buntrock-Döpke Eva Weigl Eva Weigl Silvia Gran Silvia Gran Magdalena Gründl Jana Langguth Benedikt Lampl Guido Judex Jakob Niggel Philipp Pagel Thomas Schratzenstaller Thomas Schratzenstaller Wulf Schneider-Brachert Susanne Gastiger Mona Bodenschatz Maike Konrad Artem Levchuk Cornelius Roth Cornelius Roth David Schöner Florian Schneebauer René Rohrmanstorfer Marcus P. Dekens Susanne Brandstetter Susanne Brandstetter Johannes Zuber Johannes Zuber Daniel Wallerstorfer Andreas Burkovski Andreas Ambrosch Thomas Wagner Michael Kabesch Michael Kabesch |
| author_facet | Parastoo Kheiroddin Patricia Schöberl Patricia Schöberl Michael Althammer Ezgi Cibali Ezgi Cibali Thea Würfel Hannah Wein Birgit Kulawik Birgit Kulawik Heike Buntrock-Döpke Heike Buntrock-Döpke Eva Weigl Eva Weigl Silvia Gran Silvia Gran Magdalena Gründl Jana Langguth Benedikt Lampl Guido Judex Jakob Niggel Philipp Pagel Thomas Schratzenstaller Thomas Schratzenstaller Wulf Schneider-Brachert Susanne Gastiger Mona Bodenschatz Maike Konrad Artem Levchuk Cornelius Roth Cornelius Roth David Schöner Florian Schneebauer René Rohrmanstorfer Marcus P. Dekens Susanne Brandstetter Susanne Brandstetter Johannes Zuber Johannes Zuber Daniel Wallerstorfer Andreas Burkovski Andreas Ambrosch Thomas Wagner Michael Kabesch Michael Kabesch |
| author_sort | Parastoo Kheiroddin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Opening schools and keeping children safe from SARS-CoV-2 infections at the same time is urgently needed to protect children from direct and indirect consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. To achieve this goal, a safe, efficient, and cost-effective SARS-CoV-2 testing system for schools in addition to standard hygiene measures is necessary.Methods: We implemented the screening WICOVIR concept for schools in the southeast of Germany, which is based on gargling at home, pooling of samples in schools, and assessment of SARS-CoV-2 by pool rRT-PCR, performed decentralized in numerous participating laboratories. Depooling was performed if pools were positive, and results were transmitted with software specifically developed for the project within a day. Here, we report the results after the first 13 weeks in the project.Findings: We developed and implemented the proof-of-concept test system within a pilot phase of 7 weeks based on almost 17,000 participants. After 6 weeks in the main phase of the project, we performed >100,000 tests in total, analyzed in 7,896 pools, identifying 19 cases in >100 participating schools. On average, positive children showed an individual CT value of 31 when identified in the pools. Up to 30 samples were pooled (mean 13) in general, based on school classes and attached school staff. All three participating laboratories detected positive samples reliably with their previously established rRT-PCR standard protocols. When self-administered antigen tests were performed concomitantly in positive cases, only one of these eight tests was positive, and when antigen tests performed after positive pool rRT-PCR results were already known were included, 3 out of 11 truly positive tests were also identified by antigen testing. After 3 weeks of repetitive WICOVIR testing twice weekly, the detection rate of positive children in that cohort decreased significantly from 0.042 to 0.012 (p = 0.008).Interpretation: Repeated gargle pool rRT-PCR testing can be implemented quickly in schools. It is an effective, valid, and well-received test system for schools, superior to antigen tests in sensitivity, acceptance, and costs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T01:18:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-118cb8ca56754fc8805e0cdf7b6b3077 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2360 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T01:18:58Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Pediatrics |
| spelling | doaj.art-118cb8ca56754fc8805e0cdf7b6b30772022-12-21T21:25:52ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pediatrics2296-23602021-10-01910.3389/fped.2021.721518721518Results of WICOVIR Gargle Pool PCR Testing in German Schools Based on the First 100,000 TestsParastoo Kheiroddin0Patricia Schöberl1Patricia Schöberl2Michael Althammer3Ezgi Cibali4Ezgi Cibali5Thea Würfel6Hannah Wein7Birgit Kulawik8Birgit Kulawik9Heike Buntrock-Döpke10Heike Buntrock-Döpke11Eva Weigl12Eva Weigl13Silvia Gran14Silvia Gran15Magdalena Gründl16Jana Langguth17Benedikt Lampl18Guido Judex19Jakob Niggel20Philipp Pagel21Thomas Schratzenstaller22Thomas Schratzenstaller23Wulf Schneider-Brachert24Susanne Gastiger25Mona Bodenschatz26Maike Konrad27Artem Levchuk28Cornelius Roth29Cornelius Roth30David Schöner31Florian Schneebauer32René Rohrmanstorfer33Marcus P. Dekens34Susanne Brandstetter35Susanne Brandstetter36Johannes Zuber37Johannes Zuber38Daniel Wallerstorfer39Andreas Burkovski40Andreas Ambrosch41Thomas Wagner42Michael Kabesch43Michael Kabesch44Department of Pediatric Pneumology and Allergy, University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John and the University of Regensburg, Regensburg, GermanyDepartment of Pediatric Pneumology and Allergy, University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John and the University of Regensburg, Regensburg, GermanyScience and Innovation Campus Regensburg (WECARE) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, Regensburg, GermanyDepartment of Pediatric Pneumology and Allergy, University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John and the University of Regensburg, Regensburg, GermanyDepartment of Pediatric Pneumology and Allergy, University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John and the University of Regensburg, Regensburg, GermanyInstitute of Laboratory Medicine, Microbiology and Hygiene, Hospital of the Order of St. John, Regensburg, GermanyDepartment of Pediatric Pneumology and Allergy, University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John and the University of Regensburg, Regensburg, GermanyDepartment of Pediatric Pneumology and Allergy, University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John and the University of Regensburg, Regensburg, GermanyDepartment of Pediatric Pneumology and Allergy, University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John and the University of Regensburg, Regensburg, GermanyScience and Innovation Campus Regensburg (WECARE) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, Regensburg, GermanyDepartment of Pediatric Pneumology and Allergy, University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John and the University of Regensburg, Regensburg, GermanyScience and Innovation Campus Regensburg (WECARE) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, Regensburg, GermanyDepartment of Pediatric Pneumology and Allergy, University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John and the University of Regensburg, Regensburg, GermanyScience and Innovation Campus Regensburg (WECARE) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, Regensburg, GermanyDepartment of Pediatric Pneumology and Allergy, University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John and the University of Regensburg, Regensburg, GermanyScience and Innovation Campus Regensburg (WECARE) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, Regensburg, GermanyPublic Health Institute Cham, Cham, GermanyPublic Health Department Regensburg, Regensburg, GermanyPublic Health Department Regensburg, Regensburg, GermanyPediatric Office Judex, Regensburg, GermanyMaganamed Limited, Regensburg, GermanyMaganamed Limited, Regensburg, GermanyMedical Device Lab, Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule Regensburg, Regensburg, GermanyRegensburg Center for Biomedical Engineering, University and OTH Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany0Department of Infection Prevention and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany1Microbiology Division, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany1Microbiology Division, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany1Microbiology Division, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany1Microbiology Division, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany1Microbiology Division, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany2DATEV eG, Nürnberg, Germany2DATEV eG, Nürnberg, Germany3NOVOGENIA Limited, Eugendorf, Austria3NOVOGENIA Limited, Eugendorf, Austria4Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, AustriaScience and Innovation Campus Regensburg (WECARE) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, Regensburg, Germany5University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John and the University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany4Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria6Medical University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria3NOVOGENIA Limited, Eugendorf, Austria1Microbiology Division, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, GermanyInstitute of Laboratory Medicine, Microbiology and Hygiene, Hospital of the Order of St. John, Regensburg, Germany7Intego GmbH, Erlangen, GermanyDepartment of Pediatric Pneumology and Allergy, University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John and the University of Regensburg, Regensburg, GermanyScience and Innovation Campus Regensburg (WECARE) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, Regensburg, GermanyBackground: Opening schools and keeping children safe from SARS-CoV-2 infections at the same time is urgently needed to protect children from direct and indirect consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. To achieve this goal, a safe, efficient, and cost-effective SARS-CoV-2 testing system for schools in addition to standard hygiene measures is necessary.Methods: We implemented the screening WICOVIR concept for schools in the southeast of Germany, which is based on gargling at home, pooling of samples in schools, and assessment of SARS-CoV-2 by pool rRT-PCR, performed decentralized in numerous participating laboratories. Depooling was performed if pools were positive, and results were transmitted with software specifically developed for the project within a day. Here, we report the results after the first 13 weeks in the project.Findings: We developed and implemented the proof-of-concept test system within a pilot phase of 7 weeks based on almost 17,000 participants. After 6 weeks in the main phase of the project, we performed >100,000 tests in total, analyzed in 7,896 pools, identifying 19 cases in >100 participating schools. On average, positive children showed an individual CT value of 31 when identified in the pools. Up to 30 samples were pooled (mean 13) in general, based on school classes and attached school staff. All three participating laboratories detected positive samples reliably with their previously established rRT-PCR standard protocols. When self-administered antigen tests were performed concomitantly in positive cases, only one of these eight tests was positive, and when antigen tests performed after positive pool rRT-PCR results were already known were included, 3 out of 11 truly positive tests were also identified by antigen testing. After 3 weeks of repetitive WICOVIR testing twice weekly, the detection rate of positive children in that cohort decreased significantly from 0.042 to 0.012 (p = 0.008).Interpretation: Repeated gargle pool rRT-PCR testing can be implemented quickly in schools. It is an effective, valid, and well-received test system for schools, superior to antigen tests in sensitivity, acceptance, and costs.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2021.721518/fullchildrenCOVID-19GermanyPCRpoolinggargle |
| spellingShingle | Parastoo Kheiroddin Patricia Schöberl Patricia Schöberl Michael Althammer Ezgi Cibali Ezgi Cibali Thea Würfel Hannah Wein Birgit Kulawik Birgit Kulawik Heike Buntrock-Döpke Heike Buntrock-Döpke Eva Weigl Eva Weigl Silvia Gran Silvia Gran Magdalena Gründl Jana Langguth Benedikt Lampl Guido Judex Jakob Niggel Philipp Pagel Thomas Schratzenstaller Thomas Schratzenstaller Wulf Schneider-Brachert Susanne Gastiger Mona Bodenschatz Maike Konrad Artem Levchuk Cornelius Roth Cornelius Roth David Schöner Florian Schneebauer René Rohrmanstorfer Marcus P. Dekens Susanne Brandstetter Susanne Brandstetter Johannes Zuber Johannes Zuber Daniel Wallerstorfer Andreas Burkovski Andreas Ambrosch Thomas Wagner Michael Kabesch Michael Kabesch Results of WICOVIR Gargle Pool PCR Testing in German Schools Based on the First 100,000 Tests Frontiers in Pediatrics children COVID-19 Germany PCR pooling gargle |
| title | Results of WICOVIR Gargle Pool PCR Testing in German Schools Based on the First 100,000 Tests |
| title_full | Results of WICOVIR Gargle Pool PCR Testing in German Schools Based on the First 100,000 Tests |
| title_fullStr | Results of WICOVIR Gargle Pool PCR Testing in German Schools Based on the First 100,000 Tests |
| title_full_unstemmed | Results of WICOVIR Gargle Pool PCR Testing in German Schools Based on the First 100,000 Tests |
| title_short | Results of WICOVIR Gargle Pool PCR Testing in German Schools Based on the First 100,000 Tests |
| title_sort | results of wicovir gargle pool pcr testing in german schools based on the first 100 000 tests |
| topic | children COVID-19 Germany PCR pooling gargle |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2021.721518/full |
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