Surveillance testing is a non-diagnostic test that detects high viral loads of COVID-19 in an individual. The benefits of surveillance testing include:

1. Allows districts to identify asymptomatic COVID-19 carriers who may pass a daily self-certification from attending school and risking the spread of the virus within our buildings.
2. Allows districts to monitor the surveillance positivity rates within schools to inform decisions about in-person instruction and necessary mitigation strategies.

Ultimately, these measures will allow us to provide more in-person instruction.

The COVID-19 screening is a non-diagnostic test used to detect if an individual has high viral loads of the COVID-19 virus even if they are not experiencing any symptoms. The screening does not make a diagnosis and individuals will need to schedule a diagnostic PCR test with their doctor or state testing facility to determine if they are indeed infected with the virus. 

Additional information about this LAMP COVID screening assessment can be found here.

The test is extremely accurate, with less than a .01% false-positive rate.

There is no test that has no risk of false negatives. This screening method is extremely effective at identifying individuals with the high viral loads that are thought to drive the spread of COVID-19. The sensitivity limit of the test does not pick up all cases from individuals with very low viral loads, but increasing scientific evidence suggests that people with these very low viral loads do not spread the virus to others.

The results of this test have been validated in studies published by the University of Wisconsin, the University of Colorado, and many international institutions. The experience in LaGrange District 102 has also validated these results, as all individuals identified with a "finding of potential clinical significance" have subsequently tested positive in a diagnostic PCR test.

All D203 staff members are eligible to participate in the screening program. 

All students in grades 6-12 and students in the Connections program who are participating in the hybrid learning model are eligible to participate.  At this time students who are participating in 100% remote learning are not eligible to participate.

To date, the research suggests that kids under 12 are less likely to contract COVID-19.  Additionally, the structure of the school day for students in EC-5 provides additional mitigation strategies due to the static nature of their classroom structures.  These classroom structures allow us to reduce or eliminate the mixing of groups which is not possible at the secondary level. 

No, the screening program is voluntary, but participation is highly encouraged. The success of this mitigation strategy is based on high levels of staff and student participation.

No, there is no individual cost for the screening.  The district will be funding all costs associated with the testing.

Students/staff will receive kits including small tubes, plastic baggies, unique bar code stickers for the tubes, and instructions for collecting saliva samples at home. This is a quick process that involves spitting into a tube and then putting it into a bag and sanitizing the bag before returning it to a drop-off box at school. Each student and staff member will have a label with a barcode. No names are included on the samples as a means to maintain confidentiality. 

Directions for providing a sample can be found in the video above.

Parents and staff will ONLY be contacted if the results of the screening are positive and additional medical evaluation is needed.  Individuals will receive a text to alert them to the positive screening and they need to stay home.  The health office or HR will follow up the next day during school hours with the necessary next steps. 

Individuals with negative screenings will not be contacted.

Anyone with a positive screening will be advised to isolate and immediately contact their doctor or a state testing center to schedule a PCR test (cannot be a rapid test)  to confirm the results.  Per the DCHD guidelines, Rapid COVID tests cannot be accepted.

Any student or staff member that receives a positive screening will be considered under evaluation for COVID-19, and per IDPH guidelines must remain off campus until the return to school protocols are met.  All individuals living within the same household will also be required to quarantine until a negative PCR test is received and/or the required quarantine timelines are met.

Samples are provided with a bar code label that does not include a name. If there is a presumptive positive result, the lab will inform district staff, who will look up the bar code and contact the family or staff member. The lab is not provided with any names of students or staff. The lab immediately destroys samples and does not keep any records related to students or staff.  Any documentation related to testing will be maintained within our District with the same level of security and confidentiality as all medical information.

No, the screening program is voluntary, but participation is highly encouraged. The success of this mitigation strategy is based on high levels of staff and student participation.

No, at this time only students who have chosen the hybrid learning model are eligible for the screening program.  Due to cost and lab processing constraints, only students who will participate in on-campus learning or extracurricular programs may participate.

Parents and staff will need to complete a waiver in order to participate in the program.  

A waiver must be completed for every student who participates in the program.  Families with multiple 6-12 students will need to complete a waiver for each student.

Schedules will be developed for when students and staff will need to provide a sample.  

Buildings will determine and communicate drop off locations.

The District has partnered with SafeGuard Screening, LLC to complete the screening services.

The screening is an additional mitigation strategy, and does not take the place of other health and safety measures such as mask-wearing, social distancing, and enhanced cleaning -- These effective measures already make the risk of in-school transmission very low. Instead, it is a tool that can help ensure asymptomatic individuals do not come to our campuses and potentially transmit the virus to others.

Yes, you are highly encouraged to continue to participate in the screening. More evidence is still needed to determine how long an individual is immune from the virus.  The screening focuses on identifying high viral loads, where an individual is most likely to spread the virus to others.

Yes.  The vaccine protects individuals from becoming ill or lessens symptoms if the virus is contracted. However, there is not enough evidence yet to indicate that a vaccinated person cannot pass the infection on to others.  Surveillance testing helps to identify individuals who have a high viral load, which is when you are most likely to pass it onto others.

Our current plan is to continue this screening program through spring break.  At that time, we will reevaluate the need to extend the program.

If a student/staff member is referred for additional diagnostic testing, may participate in school/work remotely.  Students/staff would be considered present and would not be marked absent or required to take a sick day.

Yes, you are highly encouraged to participate in the screening.  While the vaccine will likely protect you from becoming sick with COVID, more research is needed to determine if a vaccinated person would still be able to spread the disease to others.

Yes, students and staff will have the opportunity to join the program each week.  This calendar outlines when the consent is received, when an individual can begin to participate in the weekly testing.

Naperville 203’s COVID-19 weekly saliva surveillance program is an important mitigation factor in our Return to Learn plan.  In partnership with SafeGuard Surveillance, LLC, Naperville 203 has been offering weekly screening tests for COVID-19 to all staff and secondary-level students.  The goal of the program is early identification of potential COVID cases so that we can reduce transmission of the virus and quarantines due to close contacts, especially from asymptomatic individuals.  This voluntary program provides an additional mitigation strategy to complement the other practices in place including wearing masks, social distancing, and symptom monitoring.

The saliva-based test has been administered once a week and screens for high viral loads of the COVID-19 virus.  The program uses an internationally recognized RT-Lamp process adapted by SafeGuard Surveillance which has correctly identified COVID-19 cases that were later confirmed by lab testing.  The test does not make a diagnosis but identifies individuals who need to seek a PCR COVID-19 test. The screening is accurate, with 99.9% of clinical findings resulting in a positive COVID-19 test.

Naperville 203 is aware of the recent New York Times article about the surveillance program. The article omits several important points about the program, including how the program has been authorized to operate under guidance from the federal Department of Health and Human Services and the fact that it has successfully identified hundreds of cases of COVID-19.  We remain committed to doing all we can to safely continue and increase in-person opportunities for our students, and our saliva surveillance program remains an important part of our considerations. We are grateful to our parents and staff members for their strong participation in this program and for the work they are doing to maintain a safe educational environment.