Testing allows us to better identify, isolate, and contact trace confirmed positive and presumed positive COVID-19 cases in our community. No identifying information will be shared with our testing partner, Mirimus Labs. Strict confidentiality and limited GSB-only access will be maintained to protect the privacy of individuals. Combined with our contact tracing efforts, new behavioral norms, and infrastructure investments, testing will enable us to minimize the presence of the COVID-19 virus on campus.

To begin the 2021-22 academic year, GSB will test all students, faculty, and staff weekly. If a student does not participate in testing, the student will not be permitted on campus until the next on-campus testing opportunity and will engage in classes via distance learning. Participation in testing is required for on-campus presence, as well as participation in athletics and/or co-curriculars. Parents/guardians may opt to coordinate their own testing for their child and bring results in on test collection day.

Rather than test each individual student and employee separately, a resource-intensive process, samples can be combined—or pooled—to cut down on the number of tests. Mirimus technology tests 24 samples at once. If one sample within a pool tests positive, the entire pool is flagged for further testing as described below.

STEP 1. Every two weeks, students, faculty, and staff will receive a clean, individual testing kit containing a barcoded sample collection tube and additional supplies (e.g., alcohol wipes for sanitizing after sample collection). 

STEP 2. Each designated collection morning, individuals will safely self-collect saliva samples at home. Please review the sample collection instructions here (written) and here (video). The ideal time for saliva sample collection is immediately after waking up in the morning. Do not use mouthwash for at least 2 hours prior to providing your sample. Do not eat, drink, smoke, chew gum, or brush your teeth at least 30 minutes prior to providing your sample. This is critical to the viability of the sample collected. 
 
STEP 3. That morning, individuals will bring the barcoded collection tubes back to campus where they will be collected by GSB personnel at temperature check stations. All individuals on campus must provide a test sample to remain on campus. 
 
Upon collection, GSB will scan the barcode on the collection tube to ensure that the sample and the name associated matches one another. The barcode and identifying individual association will only be used by the school if required for additional testing or contact tracing. No identifying information will be shared with Mirimus Labs. Strict confidentiality and limited GSB-only access will be maintained to protect the privacy of individuals. 
 
STEP 4. The same day, the collected samples will be couriered to the lab for testing. The lab will then test the samples using “pooled testing,” meaning the lab will group individual samples into batches of approximately 24. A small amount of each individual sample in the batch will be mixed to create a combined pooled sample. 

• If COVID-19 is not detected in the combined pooled sample, no further action is required. 
   

• If COVID-19 is detected in the combined pooled sample, the lab will conduct additional testing to narrow down which sample(s) were positive. Due to current regulation regarding observed sample collection for individual diagnostics, the specificity with which Mirimus can report is limited to a pair of samples (i.e., a sample containing a mix of two saliva samples). The barcodes associated with that pair of saliva samples will be reported to GSB. 
   

• GSB will contact the individuals with the potentially positive sample. Families will have to fill out a consent form to have the individual sample tested, which will have a nominal fee billed to families. This will be completed by an outside company who will use the sample collected by Mirimus. The parent or individual will have to fill out medical history in a separate, secure portal to have the testing completed. This link and process will be provided by the school nurses on an individual basis. Families may also opt to get tested elsewhere. Proof of a negative result from a PCR test administered within 48 hours of the school’s notification will allow the individual back on campus. 
   

• Submitted saliva samples are only used for COVID-19 testing, and all saliva samples are destroyed by the lab after one week. 
   

• Once an individual has a confirmed positive test, under the guidance of the Health Department, the GSB Contact Tracing Team will begin the process of contact tracing. The individual will be required to provide a negative PCR test to be cleared to return to campus. 

Individuals who are identified as potentially positive for COVID-19 by GSB’s testing will be immediately contacted. The family will need to get further testing to confirm individual positivity. Any additional individuals identified through the contact tracing process will also be contacted. Any changes required to campus operations will be communicated in a timely manner. 

The saliva test’s accuracy is virtually identical to that of individual PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests, which are the most accurate types of COVID-19 tests currently available. Mirimus has conducted experiments comparing results from pooled and individual tests of the same individuals from a very close point in time and found a 97 percent match. Retesting the same samples with the corresponding individual test yielded a 100 percent match. With proper validation, pooled sample testing is encouraged and supported by the FDA.

The test cannot be guaranteed to be 100% accurate. False positives are possible, but rare. Mirimus Labs’ test detects three different unique viral RNA templates. For a positive result, at least two RNA templates must be detected. The protocols used substantially decrease the likelihood of false positives by detecting dead viral particles.

GSB is covering the cost of the weekly non-invasive, saliva-based pooled test from Mirimus. However, families and employees are responsible for the cost of any other COVID-19 tests they may choose to get, including potential follow-up resulting from GSB’s Mirimus test. Please note that most medical insurance plans cover 100% of the cost of COVID-19 tests. Individuals may refer to How to Get Tested For COVID-19 In New Jersey to find an appropriate testing location.