Frontiers in Pediatrics (Oct 2021)
Results of WICOVIR Gargle Pool PCR Testing in German Schools Based on the First 100,000 Tests
- Parastoo Kheiroddin,
- Patricia Schöberl,
- Patricia Schöberl,
- Michael Althammer,
- Ezgi Cibali,
- Ezgi Cibali,
- Thea Würfel,
- Hannah Wein,
- Birgit Kulawik,
- Birgit Kulawik,
- Heike Buntrock-Döpke,
- Heike Buntrock-Döpke,
- Eva Weigl,
- Eva Weigl,
- Silvia Gran,
- Silvia Gran,
- Magdalena Gründl,
- Jana Langguth,
- Benedikt Lampl,
- Guido Judex,
- Jakob Niggel,
- Philipp Pagel,
- Thomas Schratzenstaller,
- Thomas Schratzenstaller,
- Wulf Schneider-Brachert,
- Susanne Gastiger,
- Mona Bodenschatz,
- Maike Konrad,
- Artem Levchuk,
- Cornelius Roth,
- Cornelius Roth,
- David Schöner,
- Florian Schneebauer,
- René Rohrmanstorfer,
- Marcus P. Dekens,
- Susanne Brandstetter,
- Susanne Brandstetter,
- Johannes Zuber,
- Johannes Zuber,
- Daniel Wallerstorfer,
- Andreas Burkovski,
- Andreas Ambrosch,
- Thomas Wagner,
- Michael Kabesch,
- Michael Kabesch
Affiliations
- Parastoo Kheiroddin
- Department of Pediatric Pneumology and Allergy, University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John and the University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- Patricia Schöberl
- Department of Pediatric Pneumology and Allergy, University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John and the University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- Patricia Schöberl
- Science and Innovation Campus Regensburg (WECARE) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, Regensburg, Germany
- Michael Althammer
- Department of Pediatric Pneumology and Allergy, University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John and the University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- Ezgi Cibali
- Department of Pediatric Pneumology and Allergy, University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John and the University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- Ezgi Cibali
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Microbiology and Hygiene, Hospital of the Order of St. John, Regensburg, Germany
- Thea Würfel
- Department of Pediatric Pneumology and Allergy, University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John and the University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- Hannah Wein
- Department of Pediatric Pneumology and Allergy, University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John and the University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- Birgit Kulawik
- Department of Pediatric Pneumology and Allergy, University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John and the University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- Birgit Kulawik
- Science and Innovation Campus Regensburg (WECARE) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, Regensburg, Germany
- Heike Buntrock-Döpke
- Department of Pediatric Pneumology and Allergy, University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John and the University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- Heike Buntrock-Döpke
- Science and Innovation Campus Regensburg (WECARE) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, Regensburg, Germany
- Eva Weigl
- Department of Pediatric Pneumology and Allergy, University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John and the University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- Eva Weigl
- Science and Innovation Campus Regensburg (WECARE) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, Regensburg, Germany
- Silvia Gran
- Department of Pediatric Pneumology and Allergy, University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John and the University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- Silvia Gran
- Science and Innovation Campus Regensburg (WECARE) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, Regensburg, Germany
- Magdalena Gründl
- Public Health Institute Cham, Cham, Germany
- Jana Langguth
- Public Health Department Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- Benedikt Lampl
- Public Health Department Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- Guido Judex
- Pediatric Office Judex, Regensburg, Germany
- Jakob Niggel
- Maganamed Limited, Regensburg, Germany
- Philipp Pagel
- Maganamed Limited, Regensburg, Germany
- Thomas Schratzenstaller
- Medical Device Lab, Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- Thomas Schratzenstaller
- Regensburg Center for Biomedical Engineering, University and OTH Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- Wulf Schneider-Brachert
- 0Department of Infection Prevention and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- Susanne Gastiger
- 1Microbiology Division, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
- Mona Bodenschatz
- 1Microbiology Division, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
- Maike Konrad
- 1Microbiology Division, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
- Artem Levchuk
- 1Microbiology Division, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
- Cornelius Roth
- 1Microbiology Division, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
- Cornelius Roth
- 2DATEV eG, Nürnberg, Germany
- David Schöner
- 2DATEV eG, Nürnberg, Germany
- Florian Schneebauer
- 3NOVOGENIA Limited, Eugendorf, Austria
- René Rohrmanstorfer
- 3NOVOGENIA Limited, Eugendorf, Austria
- Marcus P. Dekens
- 4Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
- Susanne Brandstetter
- Science and Innovation Campus Regensburg (WECARE) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, Regensburg, Germany
- Susanne Brandstetter
- 5University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John and the University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- Johannes Zuber
- 4Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
- Johannes Zuber
- 6Medical University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
- Daniel Wallerstorfer
- 3NOVOGENIA Limited, Eugendorf, Austria
- Andreas Burkovski
- 1Microbiology Division, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
- Andreas Ambrosch
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Microbiology and Hygiene, Hospital of the Order of St. John, Regensburg, Germany
- Thomas Wagner
- 7Intego GmbH, Erlangen, Germany
- Michael Kabesch
- Department of Pediatric Pneumology and Allergy, University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John and the University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- Michael Kabesch
- Science and Innovation Campus Regensburg (WECARE) at the Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, Regensburg, Germany
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2021.721518
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 9
Abstract
Background: Opening schools and keeping children safe from SARS-CoV-2 infections at the same time is urgently needed to protect children from direct and indirect consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. To achieve this goal, a safe, efficient, and cost-effective SARS-CoV-2 testing system for schools in addition to standard hygiene measures is necessary.Methods: We implemented the screening WICOVIR concept for schools in the southeast of Germany, which is based on gargling at home, pooling of samples in schools, and assessment of SARS-CoV-2 by pool rRT-PCR, performed decentralized in numerous participating laboratories. Depooling was performed if pools were positive, and results were transmitted with software specifically developed for the project within a day. Here, we report the results after the first 13 weeks in the project.Findings: We developed and implemented the proof-of-concept test system within a pilot phase of 7 weeks based on almost 17,000 participants. After 6 weeks in the main phase of the project, we performed >100,000 tests in total, analyzed in 7,896 pools, identifying 19 cases in >100 participating schools. On average, positive children showed an individual CT value of 31 when identified in the pools. Up to 30 samples were pooled (mean 13) in general, based on school classes and attached school staff. All three participating laboratories detected positive samples reliably with their previously established rRT-PCR standard protocols. When self-administered antigen tests were performed concomitantly in positive cases, only one of these eight tests was positive, and when antigen tests performed after positive pool rRT-PCR results were already known were included, 3 out of 11 truly positive tests were also identified by antigen testing. After 3 weeks of repetitive WICOVIR testing twice weekly, the detection rate of positive children in that cohort decreased significantly from 0.042 to 0.012 (p = 0.008).Interpretation: Repeated gargle pool rRT-PCR testing can be implemented quickly in schools. It is an effective, valid, and well-received test system for schools, superior to antigen tests in sensitivity, acceptance, and costs.
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