November 2, 2020

Norwich COVID-19 Testing Initiative Pilot: Evaluating the Feasibility of Asymptomatic Testing on a University Campus

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Testing and Treatment

Keywords (Tags): schools, testing

A cross-sectional study in a university setting in England indicated that universal, repeated self-testing for COVID-19 using PCR was both acceptable, and could be feasible. Staff and student participants (n = 1053) were given four PCR swabs to self-administer over 2 weeks. 76% participants provided at least one swab, among whom 86% provided all four. Of those who submitted at least one swab, none had a positive test (6 participants with one inconclusive result). Mean acceptability score was 4.5/5 (5 was most positive) among the 57% of participants who responded to a post-testing survey. 

Gillam et al. (Oct 30, 2020). Norwich COVID-19 Testing Initiative Pilot: Evaluating the Feasibility of Asymptomatic Testing on a University Campus. Journal of Public Health. https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdaa194