Workplace COVID-19 (Coronavirus) PCR Swab Test for Schools & Higher Education

When possible, we recommend designing a testing program that incorporates both viral PCR testing alongside antibody testing for all employees returning to the workplace.

Viral PCR tests aim to identify anyone with an active SARS-CoV-2 infection so they can be isolated from uninfected employees. These tests can also be used as a periodic screen of employees to try to discover people without symptoms who can be assumed to be contagious.

Because of the role a viral PCR test plays in a testing program, it is important to understand that there is some variability across different test vendors. This variability is based on the components of the test, the process of collecting the sample, the type of machinery used to analyze the samples, and other elements of the process.

A recent study of various viral PCR tests showed a wide range in accuracy, with tests having a sensitivity ranging between 85 and 100%. For example, a test sensitivity of 95% means that 5% of people who actually have SARS-CoV-2 and can assume to be currently contagious will test as negative (when in fact they are a positive). This phenomenon is known as a false negative, and a test’s false negative rate is an important number to consider when procuring tests for a testing program. False positives, a positive result for someone who actually does not have SARS-CoV-2, is also an important factor to take into account.

Viral PCR tests utilize a swab of the cheek, nasal cavity, or throat — or some combination of all three.
Most viral PCR tests require the sample to be sent to a lab, where large volumes of patient samples can be analyzed at the same time. Other tests can be administered on site at the point of care. They require special equipment (essentially a mobile lab kit) and can often return more immediate test results but with a lower throughput.

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