SHIELD testing is a proactive approach to identify pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals to allow those individuals to quarantine, reducing the spread of the virus. Developed by the University of Illinois, the test was deployed on campus last school year and is approved by the FDA. The Illinois Department of Public Health is providing funding for all public schools to participate in the program at the expense of the state.

District 28 is working with a specially trained organization, HR Support, that will collect samples. Only unvaccinated individuals are eligible. Tests will occur once a week.  Each school is designating a large room such as a gym or cafeteria where several students at a time, spaced 6 feet apart, can give their sample. It is estimated that the team can collect up to 100 samples per hour. For Young Explorers students, samples will be collected individually in the hallway outside of the classrooms.

HR Support is deploying two teams per school on the following days of the week:

• Monday: Greenbriar 8:45 a.m. to noon
• Tuesday: Meadowbrook 8:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. (for 300 +/- students)
• Wednesday: Westmoor K-5 8:45 a.m. to noon; Young Explorers AM Session 9-10:15 and PM Session 12:45-2; 6th grade at NBJH 1:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. 
• Thursday: NBJH 7th & 8th grade unvaccinated students 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Meadowbrook 11 a.m .-11:45 a.m. for approx. 60 students

If school is out for a holiday or if your student is absent on the day of testing, there is no makeup day. They will be tested the next week.

Approximately 82% of the eligible student population is participating at this time. Parents can opt-out or opt-in at any time by completing the Change in Status form. Changes will go into effect the following week. Students who are fully vaccinated are not eligible.

Testing must take place in school due to Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments protocols and to ensure that test-takers are not eating or drinking prior to testing.

Individuals cannot eat, drink or put anything in their mouth one hour prior to taking the SHIELD test as this may interfere with the test results. If your child will be tested in the morning, please make sure they finish breakfast by 7:45 a.m. If your child is scheduled to test in the afternoon, testing will not begin until one hour after lunch. If they are being tested during the day, we will encourage students to drink plenty of water up until the hour before their test. 

Each student will check in with an intake representative. The students will be given a vial and funnel,  then move to a collection point. Students will be spaced 6 feet apart. They will then drool into a vial until 2mL is collected. They will cap it, the sample will be scanned and then they place it in a collection tray. See this video for an example. 

The collection site staff members will provide tips to help students produce a sufficient saliva sample. If a child is not successful after several attempts, they will return to class and try again next week.

Current notification time for the saliva test is 24 hours from the time the sample is received in the lab, so expect results in 24-48 hours after the students have provided the sample.

The notifications are as follows:

• Negative - the virus is not detected
• Positive - the virus was detected
• Invalid - the sample could not produce appropriate data during processing. (This is likely due to a poor-quality sample, not adhering to fasting requirements, or interfering material in the sample)
• Inconclusive - The sample was processed but it was not able to definitively provide a result.
• Rejected - The sample was not processed at the lab. (Likely due to low sample volume, the cap coming off the tube in transport or other damage and/or poor-quality sample.

If your child receives a positive result, the school will contact you. Staff members who have access to results have been trained and follow HIPPA privacy guidelines.

If your child tests positive, you will receive a call from the school directing you to keep your child home, and the nurse from your child's school will follow up with you regarding next steps.

The SHIELD test is a CLIA approved PCR test. Its accuracy is the gold standard of COVID-19 tests. An individual who tests positive doesn't need to seek out a second confirmatory test. It accurately detects asymptomatic cases and cases with low viral loads. 

Return to school guidance currently states individuals must stay home at least 10 calendar days from the onset of symptoms (or positive test) and for 24 hours with no fever (without fever-reducing medication) and improvement of symptoms.