WHS Pooled COVID-19 PCR Testing
As the Watertown Public Schools transition students to in-person learning, protocols such as face coverings, hand washing, social distancing, and additional cleaning measures are in place to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission among students, teachers, and staff in school buildings. Student COVID-19 PCR pooled testing is an additional layer to ensure that our students and staff are safe in our schools as best we possibly can be.

Student testing will maximize the longevity of in-person learning by quickly detecting, tracing, and isolating COVID-19-positive individuals—whether or not they become symptomatic. And, it will provide families and staff with peace of mind. The current safety measures in place combined with testing for staff and students will lower the risk of transmission and allow more consistent access to in-person instruction for our students.

What is pooled testing? Pooled testing combines a number of collected test samples into a pool, and analyzes the pool results. Pooled testing is conducted as surveillance testing. A group of no more than 10 samples is gathered together for bulk testing. If anyone is positive in the pool, then students that are in the pool will come back the next morning for individual testing and will learn in a remote setting until the individual results are returned. Students will be pooled by their cluster and cohort. Turn around time for testing is generally no more than 24 hours.

The testing is an anterior-nasal swab test (a short swab no longer than a typical q-tip) and students 14 and over can actually self-swab. Otherwise, one of our school nurses or a voluntary medical professional will collect the sample.

One of the benefits of pooled testing is that no personal health information is provided to anyone outside of the district. Our school nurses will call any students in a positive pool to explain next steps and discuss retesting options.

Please use this form to indicate your interest in having your child(ren) testing weekly.  By filling out this form, you agree to consent to have your child tested, and that you have read the consent form: https://bit.ly/392pEQ3


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I would like to have my Watertown High School child participate in the pooled testing program beginning December 7 and continuing weekly.  
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Child's Name (please fill out one form per child) *
Cohort *
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After reading the consent form for weekly testing, I acknowledge that I read the consent form (https://bit.ly/392pEQ3) and that by typing my name in the box, I consent to have my child participate in the pooled COVID-19 testing. Please type full name:  
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