TY - JOUR A1 - Kheiroddin, Parastoo A1 - Schöberl, Patricia A1 - Althammer, Michael A1 - Cibali, Ezgi A1 - Würfel, Thea A1 - Wein, Hannah A1 - Kulawik, Birgit A1 - Buntrock-Döpke, Heike A1 - Weigl, Eva A1 - Gran, Silvia A1 - Gründl, Magdalena A1 - Langguth, Jana A1 - Lampl, Benedikt A1 - Judex, Guido A1 - Niggel, Jakob A1 - Pagel, Philipp A1 - Schratzenstaller, Thomas A1 - Schneider-Brachert, Wulf A1 - Gastiger, Susanne A1 - Bodenschatz, Mona A1 - Konrad, Maike A1 - Levchuk, Artem A1 - Roth, Cornelius A1 - Schöner, David A1 - Schneebauer, Florian A1 - Rohrmanstorfer, René A1 - Burkovski, Andreas A1 - Ambrosch, Andreas A1 - Wagner, Thomas A1 - Kabesch, Michael ED - Buonsenso, Danilo T1 - Results of WICOVIR Gargle Pool PCR Testing in German Schools Based on the First 100,000 Tests JF - Frontiers in Pediatrics N2 - 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. KW - children KW - COVID-19 KW - Germany KW - PCR KW - pooling KW - gargle KW - schools KW - pandemic KW - Covid-19 KW - Polymerase-Kettenreaktion KW - Nachweis KW - Schulkind KW - Deutschland Y1 - 2021 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2021.721518 SN - 2296-2360 VL - 9 PB - frontiers ER -