AUTHOR=Colom-Cadena Andreu , Martínez-Riveros Héctor , Bordas Anna , Alonso-García Lucia , Montoro-Fernández Marcos , Romano-deGea Pol , Vidal-Alaball Josep , Solà-Segura Elisabet , Llibre Josep M. , Revollo Boris , Casabona Jordi , Agustí Cristina TITLE=Feasibility of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antigen self-testing in school and summer camp attendees JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pediatrics VOLUME=10 YEAR=2023 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pediatrics/articles/10.3389/fped.2022.975454 DOI=10.3389/fped.2022.975454 ISSN=2296-2360 ABSTRACT=Background

SARS-CoV-2 screening is one of the pillars of non-pharmaceutical preventive strategies to early identify and isolate infected individuals and therefore decrease community incidence.

Methods

We assessed the feasibility of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 self-testing with antigen-detecting rapid diagnostic tests in attendees of educational settings.

Results

A total of 305 students (88.15%) and 41 staff (11.85%) from 9 to 56 years old participated in the self-testing procedure and answered the survey at the end of the study. 91.3% (n = 313) did not need help, 96.1% of participants reported the same outcome as the healthcare workers. 94.5% strongly or slightly agree with the statement “I would repeat the experience”.

Conclusion

The study demonstrates that self-testing is acceptable and usable in children, adolescents and adults when the epidemiological situation may require a systematic screening of these populations, although supervision by health care or previously trained personnel is recommended for younger age groups.