COVID-19 Saliva Test Program

Hello Fern Families : 

Fern PS is scheduled to start the C-19 Saliva Test program on October 11th. Please see below for more detailed information. 

Dear School Community, 

The Hospital for Sick Children is pleased to provide the COVID-19 Saliva Testing Program in partnership with your school. Under this program, we offer COVID-19 saliva test kits for symptomatic staff, students, and household members, or those who have been identified by Toronto Public Health (TPH) as a high risk/close contact of a confirmed COVID-19 positive case. We also offer cohort and/or outbreak testing as recommended by TPH. 

Through participation in this program, we hope to provide a test that is painless and accessible, reduce COVID-19 cases in your school, keep schools open, promote healthy childhood development, and support the health and safety of your community. 

Where

do I pick up my kit?

  • Saliva kits will be provided to your school administration if testing criteria is met:
    • 1. Have symptoms consistent with COVID-19
    • 2. High risk/close contact identified by TPH
    • 3. Cohort/outbreak management identified by TPH
  • You can bring a kit home from school OR a non-symptomatic member of the household can pick one up

What

 is in my saliva kit?

 
  1. Saliva collection container (the blue liquid deactivates the virus)
  2. Laboratory form (must be filled out to receive your results)
  3. Saliva collection instructions (on the back of the laboratory form)
  4. Instructions for how to access your results
  5. A blank label for your saliva container (label with legal full name and date of birth as per your health card and stick onto the specimen container)

When

to use a kit?

  • The individual is experiencing at least 1 or more COVID-19 symptom
  • The individual has been informed by TPH that they are a high risk/close contact to a COVID-19 positive case
  • Cohort/outbreak testing
    • Please follow the testing window dates provided by TPH in the close contact letter and include the outbreak number on the lab requisition. If you have symptoms, test right away. Otherwise, wait until the recommended DATE from TPH.

How

to collect saliva?

  • If you fit testing criteria, pick up a COVID-19 saliva kit
  • Collect and label your sample, fill out the requisition, seal it in the biohazard bag, and drop off at the designated school location
    • Only samples with a fully completed label and lab form will be processed. If you have a health card, the information must match the lab form. Include the outbreak number if provided.
  • Saliva collection instructions: No eating, drinking, smoking, chewing gum, brushing teeth, vaping 30 minutes before your test. Click here: Saliva Collection Instructions

How  

to drop off the kit?

  • At your school, there will be a pre-designated drop off location, open Monday-Friday during school hours
  • For same day pickup, please have your samples dropped off by 9am or samples may be picked up the next day.
  • Please place your sealed saliva kit (containing your labelled saliva container and the completed lab requisition) inside the brown paper bag.

When

do I get my results?

 
  • If the sample is positive, you will receive a telephone call from SickKids within 24-48hours and Toronto Public Health to follow up on your result.
  • If the result is negative, you will not receive a call.
  • With OHIP -  Access your results
  • Without OHIP – Please write your email on the requisition form for follow up

Questions?

Please see link to webinar for more information. Webinar