Pool testing as a Strategy for Avoidance of SARS-CoV-2 Outbreaks in Schools (STACAMA): Protocol for a Feasibility Study (Preprint)

BACKGROUND School closures are a widely implemented strategy for limiting infection spread in the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The negative impact on children and young people is increasingly apparent, however. OBJECTIVE We aim to evaluate the feasibility of an infection monitoring program in schools to enable targeted quarantining to replace school closures. METHODS Five pupils per class will be pseudorandomly selected twice a week and asked to provide a gargle sample over a 16-week evaluation period. The samples will be analyzed in a laboratory using RT-PCR in a pool testing procedure, followed by immediate individual testing in the case of a positive pool test. Testing will be performed in strict adherence to data protection standards. Pupils will receive a 16-digit study access code, which they will be able to use to receive their test results. Questionnaires will be performed for evaluation of the acceptability of the program among participants and their families and teachers. RESULTS We will quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate the logistics and the acceptability of the program. CONCLUSIONS This study should inform the design of infection surveillance programs in schools based on gargle samples and a pool testing strategy, enabling identification of any aspects requiring adaptation before large-scale implementation. Our focus on each step in the logistics and on the reported experience of families should enable a robust assessment of the feasibility of such an approach. CLINICALTRIAL