In recent times, the COVID-19 pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges for the education sector, with many schools and districts struggling to implement safe and effective testing protocols. However, a new study conducted by the HSD Human Factors Team in collaboration with Quantigen team members Luis Hernandez, Jessica Wicker, Leah Padgett, provides promising results regarding a novel specimen self-collection method for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. This white paper, “K–8 Classroom Self-Collection Using XpressCollect Nasal Swab: A Usability and Efficacy Study”, summarizes the study’s findings and their implications for schools and districts seeking to implement safe and effective testing protocols.
Read the abstract below:
‘This study demonstrates that students in kindergarten through eighth grade can use the XpressCollect nasal swab to self-collect a specimen under the guidance of a teacher. This phased study was conducted with parents, teachers, and students. Phases 1 and 2 were conducted as interviews with teachers and parents to assess the suitability of the XpressCollect for children in kindergarten through eighth grade. Additionally, teacher and parent feedback was obtained to develop and optimize the instructional materials for subsequent phases. In Phases 3 and 4, teachers guided small groups and full classes of students through the sample collection process with XpressCollect. The samples collected by the students were sent to a laboratory to analyze the effectiveness of specimen self-collection based on the presence of ribonuclease P (RNase P) on each nasal swab. The presence of RNase P enables disease determination; thus, student samples were analyzed for adequate or inadequate sampling. All students in kindergarten through eighth grade are capable of self-collecting an anterior nares specimen with XpressCollect, as the laboratory results identified acceptable RNase P Ct values for the samples collected in a classroom setting.’