Launching a saliva-based SARS-CoV-2 surveillance testing program on a university campus

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Infectious Disease Surveillance
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Surveillance testing for SARS-CoV-2 is crucial for preventing outbreaks on college campuses.
• Early pandemic challenges required adaptable testing strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the implementation and outcomes of a voluntary saliva testing program at UC Berkeley in 2020.
• To evaluate the program's effectiveness in routine, robust SARS-CoV-2 surveillance.
• To identify strategies for encouraging participation and fostering civic responsibility.

Main Methods:

• A voluntary saliva testing program was administered as a research study.
• The program allowed for ongoing assay optimization alongside surveillance.
• Participant experiences were evaluated alongside testing protocol results.

Main Results:

• The program provided routine and robust SARS-CoV-2 testing for the campus community.
• The study identified strategies to encourage participation in surveillance testing.
• The initiative contributed to outbreak prevention efforts.

Conclusions:

• Voluntary saliva testing can be an effective tool for SARS-CoV-2 outbreak prevention in university settings.
• Integrating research and clinical implementation facilitated rapid deployment and optimization.
• Strategies promoting participation are key to successful campus-wide surveillance.