SHIELD Testing/Screening
Hoopeston Area CUSD #11 has partnered with the University of Illinois to bring SHIELD Saliva COVID-19 testing to our schools. This testing/screening method is functional, precise and completely voluntary. Hoopeston Area Students and staff with a signed consent form on file will be tested twice (2) per week through the end of the first semester. Consent forms can be picked up at your child's school office. Students and staff with no signed consent form on file will not be tested. We are partnering with a professional collection vendor to conduct the sample collection and transportation to the lab.
Benefits of SHIELD testing/screening
No cost to the individual or school district.
Current notification time for the saliva test is less than 24 hours and could be as quick as 6 - 12 hours.
Through speed and accuracy, the saliva tests can increase access to testing and control spread.
The saliva test is non-invasive and does not need medically trained personnel to collect samples.
Saliva PCR tests can find positives earlier than other tests, even 1-2 days before the infectious phase.
Testing everyone is critical because ~50% of spread is done by asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic individuals.
Individuals become contagious before symptoms appear covid SHIELD can detect the virus before it becomes transmissible.
The saliva test has a sensitivity of 97% and a specificity of 99%, with very few false positives. High specificity combined with frequent testing makes the SHIELD saliva-based test extremely accurate.
SHIELD testing/screening with the early detection capabilities, when performed two (2) times per week, the test /screening would be able to detect a positive prior to the individual becoming infectious.
As an alternative to quarantine, students and teachers who have been identified as a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case now have the option of a Test-to-Stay protocol. Close contacts must be tested on days 1, 3, 5, and 7 after exposure. As long as close contacts remain negative, they are not required to quarantine. Close contacts are only eligible for Test-to-Stay if their school requires universal indoor masking of all individuals (age 2 and older), regardless of vaccination status, and both the close contact and infected individual were wearing masks at the time of exposure. IDPH encourages all schools to implement weekly testing of their unvaccinated students and staff. Schools that implement weekly testing will be prioritized for Test-to-Stay and outbreak testing when required.