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Implementing the Lolli-Method and pooled RT-qPCR testing for SARS-CoV-2 surveillance in schools: a pilot project.
Kretschmer, Alina Chloé; Junker, Lena; Dewald, Felix; Linne, Viktoria; Hennen, Lea; Horemheb-Rubio, Gibran; Kaiser, Rolf; Steger, Gertrud; Joachim, Alexander; Schönenkorb, Jana; Cosgun, Zülfü Cem; Mühlhans, Neslihan; Heger, Eva; Knops, Elena; Leisse, Charlotte; Kessel, Barbora; Heinsohn, Torben; Rodiah, Isti; Lange, Berit; Ritter, Anne Lena; Fries, Mira; Kossow, Annelene; Nießen, Johannes; Dötsch, Jörg; Klein, Florian; Rybniker, Jan; Fätkenheuer, Gerd; Suárez, Isabelle.
  • Kretschmer AC; Department I of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany.
  • Junker L; Department I of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany.
  • Dewald F; Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), B-FAST Project in "NaFoUniMedCovid19" (FKZ: 01KX2021), Bonn, Germany.
  • Linne V; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany.
  • Hennen L; Institute of Virology, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
  • Horemheb-Rubio G; Department I of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany.
  • Kaiser R; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
  • Steger G; Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), B-FAST Project in "NaFoUniMedCovid19" (FKZ: 01KX2021), Bonn, Germany.
  • Joachim A; Department I of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany.
  • Schönenkorb J; Institute of Virology, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
  • Cosgun ZC; Institute of Virology, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
  • Mühlhans N; Institute of Virology, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
  • Heger E; Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
  • Knops E; Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
  • Leisse C; Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
  • Kessel B; Institute of Virology, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
  • Heinsohn T; Institute of Virology, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
  • Rodiah I; Institute of Virology, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
  • Lange B; Department I of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany.
  • Ritter AL; Department of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Brunswick, Germany.
  • Fries M; Department of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Brunswick, Germany.
  • Kossow A; Department of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Brunswick, Germany.
  • Nießen J; Department of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Brunswick, Germany.
  • Dötsch J; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), TI BBD, Brunswick, Germany.
  • Klein F; School Department Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
  • Rybniker J; Department I of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany.
  • Fätkenheuer G; Public Health Department Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
  • Suárez I; Public Health Department Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Infection ; 2022 Jun 27.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2267233
ABSTRACT

PURPOSE:

School closures have been used as part of lockdown strategies to contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2, adversely affecting children's health and education. To ensure the accessibility of educational institutions without exposing society to the risk of increased transmissions, it is essential to establish SARS-CoV-2 testing strategies that are child-friendly, scalable and implementable in a daily school routine. Self-sampling using non-invasive saliva swabs combined with pooled RT-qPCR testing (Lolli-Method) has been proven to be a sensitive method for the detection of SARS-CoV-2.

METHODS:

We conducted a pilot project in Cologne, Germany, designed to determine the feasibility of a large-scale rollout of the Lolli-Method for testing without any additional on-site medical staff in schools. Over a period of three weeks, students from 22 schools were sampled using the Lolli-Method. At the end of the project, teachers were asked to evaluate the overall acceptance of the project.

RESULTS:

We analyzed a total of 757 pooled RT-qPCRs obtained from 8,287 individual swabs and detected 7 SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals. The Lolli-Method was shown to be a feasible and accepted testing strategy whose application is only slightly disruptive to the daily school routine.

CONCLUSION:

Our observations suggest that the Lolli-Method in combination with pooled RT-qPCR can be implemented for SARS-CoV-2 surveillance in daily school routine, applicable on a large scale.
Keywords

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Type of study: Diagnostic study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study Language: English Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S15010-022-01865-0

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Type of study: Diagnostic study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study Language: English Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S15010-022-01865-0