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Assessing the impact of lateral flow testing strategies on within-school SARS-CoV-2 transmission and absences: A modelling study

Rapid testing strategies that replace the isolation of close contacts through the use of lateral flow device tests (LFTs) have been suggested as a way of controlling SARS-CoV-2 transmission within schools that maintain low levels of pupil absences. We developed an individual-based model of a seconda...

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Autores principales: Leng, Trystan, Hill, Edward M., Thompson, Robin N., Tildesley, Michael J., Keeling, Matt J., Dyson, Louise
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Public Library of Science 2022
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9182264/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35622860
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010158
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author Leng, Trystan
Hill, Edward M.
Thompson, Robin N.
Tildesley, Michael J.
Keeling, Matt J.
Dyson, Louise
author_facet Leng, Trystan
Hill, Edward M.
Thompson, Robin N.
Tildesley, Michael J.
Keeling, Matt J.
Dyson, Louise
author_sort Leng, Trystan
collection PubMed
description Rapid testing strategies that replace the isolation of close contacts through the use of lateral flow device tests (LFTs) have been suggested as a way of controlling SARS-CoV-2 transmission within schools that maintain low levels of pupil absences. We developed an individual-based model of a secondary school formed of exclusive year group bubbles (five year groups, with 200 pupils per year) to assess the likely impact of strategies using LFTs in secondary schools over the course of a seven-week half-term on transmission, absences, and testing volume, compared to a policy of isolating year group bubbles upon a pupil returning a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. We also considered the sensitivity of results to levels of participation in rapid testing and underlying model assumptions. While repeated testing of year group bubbles following case detection is less effective at reducing infections than a policy of isolating year group bubbles, strategies involving twice weekly mass testing can reduce infections to lower levels than would occur under year group isolation. By combining regular testing with serial contact testing or isolation, infection levels can be reduced further still. At high levels of pupil participation in lateral flow testing, strategies replacing the isolation of year group bubbles with testing substantially reduce absences, but require a high volume of testing. Our results highlight the conflict between the goals of minimising within-school transmission, minimising absences and minimising testing burden. While rapid testing strategies can reduce school transmission and absences, they may lead to a large number of daily tests.
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spelling pubmed-91822642022-06-10 Assessing the impact of lateral flow testing strategies on within-school SARS-CoV-2 transmission and absences: A modelling study Leng, Trystan Hill, Edward M. Thompson, Robin N. Tildesley, Michael J. Keeling, Matt J. Dyson, Louise PLoS Comput Biol Research Article Rapid testing strategies that replace the isolation of close contacts through the use of lateral flow device tests (LFTs) have been suggested as a way of controlling SARS-CoV-2 transmission within schools that maintain low levels of pupil absences. We developed an individual-based model of a secondary school formed of exclusive year group bubbles (five year groups, with 200 pupils per year) to assess the likely impact of strategies using LFTs in secondary schools over the course of a seven-week half-term on transmission, absences, and testing volume, compared to a policy of isolating year group bubbles upon a pupil returning a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. We also considered the sensitivity of results to levels of participation in rapid testing and underlying model assumptions. While repeated testing of year group bubbles following case detection is less effective at reducing infections than a policy of isolating year group bubbles, strategies involving twice weekly mass testing can reduce infections to lower levels than would occur under year group isolation. By combining regular testing with serial contact testing or isolation, infection levels can be reduced further still. At high levels of pupil participation in lateral flow testing, strategies replacing the isolation of year group bubbles with testing substantially reduce absences, but require a high volume of testing. Our results highlight the conflict between the goals of minimising within-school transmission, minimising absences and minimising testing burden. While rapid testing strategies can reduce school transmission and absences, they may lead to a large number of daily tests. Public Library of Science 2022-05-27 /pmc/articles/PMC9182264/ /pubmed/35622860 http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010158 Text en © 2022 Leng et al https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
spellingShingle Research Article
Leng, Trystan
Hill, Edward M.
Thompson, Robin N.
Tildesley, Michael J.
Keeling, Matt J.
Dyson, Louise
Assessing the impact of lateral flow testing strategies on within-school SARS-CoV-2 transmission and absences: A modelling study
title Assessing the impact of lateral flow testing strategies on within-school SARS-CoV-2 transmission and absences: A modelling study
title_full Assessing the impact of lateral flow testing strategies on within-school SARS-CoV-2 transmission and absences: A modelling study
title_fullStr Assessing the impact of lateral flow testing strategies on within-school SARS-CoV-2 transmission and absences: A modelling study
title_full_unstemmed Assessing the impact of lateral flow testing strategies on within-school SARS-CoV-2 transmission and absences: A modelling study
title_short Assessing the impact of lateral flow testing strategies on within-school SARS-CoV-2 transmission and absences: A modelling study
title_sort assessing the impact of lateral flow testing strategies on within-school sars-cov-2 transmission and absences: a modelling study
topic Research Article
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9182264/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35622860
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010158
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