Evaluation of a COVID‐19 Rapid Antigen Testing Program in a Supervised Community Distance Learning Setting for K‐8 Students

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND School‐based COVID‐19 testing is a potential strategy to limit COVID‐19 transmission among youth in congregate settings such as schools, sports programs, and summer camps. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of frequent rapid antigen testing at a supervised distance‐learning setting for elementary and middle school children while their schools were closed. METHODS This evaluation examines participation rates and testing data in addition to qualitative analysis of focus groups from a Los Angeles City‐sponsored rapid antigen testing pilot program. In total, 434 children and staff were enrolled in the 13‐week pilot program in the spring of 2021. RESULTS In this pilot program, 2482 rapid antigen tests were administered, resulting in 3 positive test results, 1 of which was a false positive (confirmed by polymerase chain reaction testing) and 0 outbreaks or community spread. CONCLUSIONS Throughout this pilot program, implementing rapid antigen tests allowed for the quick identification and isolation of potentially COVID‐19‐positive children, improved perceived safety for parents and staff who interact with children, and demonstrated the ability for staff and non‐health care professionals in a school‐based setting to implement a widespread COVID‐19 screening program with minimal training.