March 23, 2021

Surveillance-Based Informative Testing for Detection and Containment of SARS-CoV-2 Outbreaks on a Public University Campus: An Observational and Modelling Study

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Testing and Treatment

Keywords (Tags): college, testing

• A novel strategy of random testing combined with follow-up targeted testing in outbreak areas (“surveillance-based informative testing”, SBIT) was associated with a 36% reduction in peak weekly COVID-19 cases at Clemson University in South Carolina over a 2-week period. The strategy helped identify outbreaks in 45 residence halls across 8 buildings. Transmission models based on testing data suggested that random surveillance testing alone without follow-up targeted testing would have resulted in 24% more cases throughout the semester, and up to 154% more cases in the absence of SBIT compared to voluntary testing alone.

Rennert et al. (Mar 22, 2021). Surveillance-Based Informative Testing for Detection and Containment of SARS-CoV-2 Outbreaks on a Public University Campus: An Observational and Modelling Study. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-4642(21)00060-2