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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...
Autores principales: | , , , , , |
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Formato: | Online Artículo Texto |
Lenguaje: | English |
Publicado: |
Public Library of Science
2022
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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. |
format | Online Article Text |
id | pubmed-9182264 |
institution | National Center for Biotechnology Information |
language | English |
publishDate | 2022 |
publisher | Public Library of Science |
record_format | MEDLINE/PubMed |
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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