APS is partnering with ResourcePath to provide free weekly testing in schools, and also to offer appointments for symptomatic and back-to-school exposure clearance at Kenmore Middle School.
En español
-
Sign your child up for free weekly in-school testing
-
Schedule an appointment for free symptomatic or clearance testing at Kenmore
Arlington Public Schools strongly encourages all students and staff to sign up for free weekly COVID testing as part of our overall pandemic strategy to keep each other safe. APS is providing the free asymptomatic testing in partnership with ResourcePath, a CLIA-licensed and College of American Pathologists accredited molecular diagnostics laboratory. View Testing Schedule
Students and staff who have symptoms of COVID-19, or who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 (“close contact”), must get a negative test result to return to school or work, or else quarantine. Free testing is available, by appointment, at Kenmore Middle School, from 3:30-7:30 p.m. Mon-Fri and Sat 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. A PCR-RT test is administered by medical staff and results are available through email within 24 hours. More information and appointments on the ResourcePath website
Weekly Asymptomatic Testing – How It Works
Arlington Public Schools in partnership with ResourcePath conducts asymptomatic weekly testing of students and staff using individual PCR tests. In the weekly testing program, all participants who sign up are given a soft cotton swab to insert into both nostrils approximately 1.5 inches. The cotton swab is then placed in an individual test kit, and samples are scanned for COVID-19 using a “pooled” testing process for efficiency and timeliness, at the ResourcePath laboratory. If a sample in the pool comes back positive, it will be run a second time by itself to confirm the positive test. Other participants in the pool will not be required to quarantine. Pooling reduces the amount of time required to test large numbers of students without limiting effectiveness.
Weekly testing programs have proven to be successful across the country in K-12 settings to keep students in the classroom and schools open, stopping outbreaks before COVID-19 has a chance to spread.
To participate, ResourcePath needs a signed consent form from a parent/guardian which can be found on the ResourcePath website. Symptomatic PCR-RT test results are typically available 24 to 48 hours and are emailed to parents. For those students or staff who test positive, the laboratory Medical Director will call directly to relay the results and provide specific advice regarding further action.
More information on pool based PCR testing:
- Pooling specimens allows the laboratory to test more individuals using fewer testing materials. Pooling is safe and effective and can also increase efficiency and reduce the cost of testing.
- Pooling reduces test sensitivity to ensure an accurate baseline for all pooled samples.
- Pooling is a testing methodology that can be used when performing Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests (NAATs) provided the test has received an FDA authorization for pooling.
Strategized Surveillance Program Overview
- Students participating in testing will be able to administer the PCR mid-nasal swab with the support and supervision of a provider. It is a quick and easy process that takes place at a set time weekly for their school.
- At the laboratory, technicians will receive the individual PCR mid-nasal swabs from the school and create a pool not exceed 6 students and run as a group through one laboratory test, preserving the original individual test collected. This method of testing does not impact the integrity of individual samples collected.
- If a pool comes up positive, the lab uses an formula to determine which samples to test for confirmation of which student(s) are positive. These confirmation results will be followed up with a running of the individual sample(s) identified to confirm positive status.
- As a precaution, all students identified in the pool will be excluded from in person instruction and activities while results are confirmed. Families receive definitive confirmation of the positive results after individual sample(s) are confirmed within 12-24 hours.
- Students in the pool will not need to quarantine during this process unless they are identified as a suspected case using the algorithm on the pooled samples.
Staff required to participate in weekly surveillance as part of their exemption from the vaccination mandate should get tested during their two hour time block for their work location. If an employee misses their two hour block they may go the immediate next day to at comprehensive high school (e.g., Wakefield, Washington-Liberty, Yorktown) between 3:30 PM and 6:30 PM.
| School | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
| Abingdon Elementary School | 7:30-9:30 | ||||
| Alice West Fleet Elementary School | 8:30 – 10:30 | ||||
| Arlington Career Center | 7:30- 9:30 | ||||
| Arlington Community High School | 11:30-1:30 | ||||
| Arlington Science Focus School | 8:30-10:30 | ||||
| Arlington Traditional School | 1:30-3:30 | ||||
| Ashlawn Elementary School | 2:00-4:00 | ||||
| Barcroft Elementary School | 11:30-1:30 | ||||
| Campbell Elementary School | 10:30- 12:30 | ||||
| Cardinal Elementary School | 10:00-12:00 | ||||
| Carlin Springs Elementary School | 1:30-3:00 | ||||
| Claremont Immersion | 1:00-4:00 | ||||
| Discovery Elementary School | 11:30-1:30 | ||||
| Dorothy Hamm Middle School | 7:30-9:30 | ||||
| Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary School | 10:00-12:00 | ||||
| Escuela Key School | 12:00 – 2:00 | ||||
| Eunice Shriver Program | 1:00-1:30 | ||||
| Glebe Elementary School | 2:00-4:00 | ||||
| Gunston Middle School | 7:30-11:00 | ||||
| H-B Woodlawn Secondary | 2:00-4:30 | ||||
| Hoffman Boston Elementary School | 8:30-10:30 | ||||
| Innovation Elementary School | 11:30-1:30 | ||||
| Jamestown Elementary School | 8:30-10:30 | ||||
| Kenmore Middle School | 10:00-12:00 | ||||
| KW Barrett Elementary School | 10:30-12:30 | ||||
| Langston and New Directions | 2:00-3:30 | ||||
| Long Branch Elementary School | 8:00-10:00 | ||||
| Montessori Public School of Arlington | 2:00-4:00 | ||||
| Nottingham Elementary School | 11:30-1:30 | ||||
| Oakridge Elementary School | 12:00-2:00 | ||||
| Randolph Elementary School | 1:30-3:30 | ||||
| Swanson Middle School | 7:30-9:30 | ||||
| Syphax Education Center | 2:00-4:00 | ||||
| Taylor Elementary School | 2:00-4:00 | ||||
| Thomas Jefferson Middle School | 7:30-9:30 | ||||
| Trades Center | 2:30-4:00 | ||||
| Tuckahoe Elementary School | 8:30-10:30 | ||||
| Wakefield High School | 10:30-6:30 | 10:30-6:30 | 10:30-6:30 | 10:30-6:30 | 10:30-6:30 |
| Washington-Liberty High School | 10:30-6:30 | 10:30-6:30 | 10:30-6:30 | 10:30-6:30 | 10:30-6:30 |
| Williamsburg Middle School | 10:00-1:00 | ||||
| Yorktown High School | 10:30-6:30 | 10:30-6:30 | 10:30-6:30 | 10:30-6:30 | 10:30-6:30 |
Discontinue Participation (opt-out)
Students and staff who wish to discontinue participation in voluntary strategized surveillance testing through ResourcePath may do so by providing their request in writing to ResourcePath via the following link: apsvassurveillanceoptout. Parents/Guardians should enter their student ID number by using S plus the number (e.g., S1234567) instead of just the number (e.g., 1234567). Opt out requests are processed every Thursday at 5 PM for the following week.
About ResourcePath
ResourcePath is a CLIA-licensed and College of American Pathologists (CAP)-accredited high complexity laboratory specializing in pathologic consulting and molecular diagnostics. ResourcePath combines expertise in research and development to address important diagnostic needs in oncology and emerging infectious diseases.
ResourcePath has performed over 90,000 RT-PCR tests for clients in Northern Virginia and supports Arlington County Free Testing Events, multiple Long Term Care Facilities, and other congregate care facilities in Arlington County. They also offer daily drive-up testing services at its laboratory in Sterling.
