UTHS is pleased to offer COVID testing for students, starting Monday, October 18.

We will use the BinaxNOW rapid COVID test.  The test is a shallow nasal swab, with results in 15 minutes or less.  Trained medical staff will administer the tests.

We will use the test-to-stay protocols, testing on the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th day (or the first available day after exposure or symptom onset).

We hope this will help reduce student exclusions.
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The District has approved and implemented a program to perform COVID-19 testing through the use of the Abbott BinaxNOW test (“Test”) as part of our efforts to maintain a safe environment for our school community.  This Test is being used as one part of District’s overall safety protocols that includes masks, social distancing, cleaning, and other mitigation strategies.

The Test is a fast-acting antigen test approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and distributed to the State for the use in a variety of settings, including schools. The Test is administered through a nasal swab and results are available within 15 minutes.  Any students testing positive will be isolated, parents will be notified to pick the student up from school, and the student will then follow District and IDPH guidance on the required quarantine and return to school protocols.  

If you have any questions about the Test, please contact Angie Larson, School Nurse at the District or feel free to discuss the proposed testing with your physician, to learn about the purpose, potential risks and benefits of any testing.

By signing below:

1.  You voluntarily consent for your child to participate in the Test which involves a nasal swab testing process; and

2.  You acknowledge that if your child tests positive for COVID, your child will be sent home from school and will adhere to the District and IDPH guidance on required quarantine and return to school protocols; and

3.  You voluntarily consent to the disclosure of positive test results to the District Nurse’s office which will be maintained as a student record in the same manner that the District currently maintains other student records such as immunizations and physicals; and

4.  You acknowledge that no testing is 100% accurate and that you release and hold harmless the District from any claims arising out of the participation in the Test, including but not limited to any inaccurate testing results.  

If at any time, you choose to revoke consent as provided here, the revocation must be received by the District in writing indicating your desire to revoke your consent for you or your child to participate in administration of the Test as detailed herein.