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COVID-19 Lateral Flow Testing Quality Plan
2
Contents
Context ....................................................................................................................................... 3
Testing team .............................................................................................................................. 3
Quality checklist ......................................................................................................................... 4
Briefing the school community ............................................................................................... 4
Recruitment and training of staff ............................................................................................ 4
Wider communications ........................................................................................................... 5
Risk assessment .................................................................................................................... 5
Arranging supervision of pupils .............................................................................................. 6
Identifying suitable base......................................................................................................... 6
Setting up registration and recording system ........................................................................ 7
Securing consent for lateral flow testing ................................................................................ 7
Scheduling testing .................................................................................................................. 8
Taking delivery and storing equipment .................................................................................. 9
Setting up the testing base .................................................................................................... 9
Conducting a walk through .................................................................................................. 10
Conducting testing: registration ........................................................................................... 10
Conducting testing: swabbing .............................................................................................. 11
Conducting testing: processing ............................................................................................ 11
Conducting testing: recording of results .............................................................................. 12
Conducting testing: cleaning and waste disposal ................................................................ 12
Conducting testing: site culture and efficiency of end-to-end process ................................ 13
Managing positive cases ...................................................................................................... 13
Managing negative cases .................................................................................................... 13
Record keeping .................................................................................................................... 14
Compliance with GDPR ....................................................................................................... 14
Appendices .............................................................................................................................. 15
Appendix A1 Template: School’s COVID-19 testing team .............................................. 15
Appendix A2 Quality checklist (to be completed before first testing commences and
revisited if new team members join or a new testing base is established) ......................... 15
Appendix A3 Quality checklist (to be completed daily) .................................................... 15
Appendix B1 School test assistant / swabber competency assessment ........................ 15
Appendix B2 School processor competency assessment .............................................. 15
Appendix B3 School results recorder competency assessment ..................................... 15
Appendix C1 Template COVID-19 test register ............................................................... 15
Appendix D1 COVID-19 risk assessment: school based asymptomatic testing ............. 15
COVID-19 Lateral Flow Testing Quality Plan
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Context
Schools are required to deliver mass lateral flow testing to pupils as part of their suite of
measures to stem the spread of COVID-19.
Additionally, schools are able to deliver serial testing to those pupils and staff who have
been identified as close contacts of someone within school who has tested positive for
COVID-19. If the recipient of serial testing has a negative result, they will not be required to
self-isolate.
Finally, weekly testing is available to staff so that the school has real-time knowledge of
whether members of its community have COVID-19 and can therefore take appropriate
action.
This quality plan has been devised to ensure that lateral flow testing is delivered safely and
effectively to the pupils and staff and thereby support continuity of face-to-face learning.
Testing team
The roles required to implement lateral flow testing are described in the COVID-19 National
Testing Programme: ‘How to Guide’ for schools and colleges.
Title of Role Role Description
Quality Lead /Team Leader Responsible for the overall on-site operations at the test site, including day-to-day workforce management. Ensures quality assurance, incident management, risks mitigation across the testing service.
COVID-19 Coordinator Signs off and schedules testing activities; ensuring communications and consents are actioned; management of positive cases as per school and college guidelines.
Registration Assistant Responsible for registering subjects on School’s COVID-19 Test Register, ensuring subjects have registered on NHS Test and Trace and distributing barcodes. Ensures orderly entry of subjects onto the testing site.
Test Assistant/s Provides guidance and supervision to subjects on swabbing as requested. Collects completed swabs and pass them to the Processor. Ensures cleaning of swabbing desks.
Processor/s Prepares test sample for analysis, conducts processing of LFD and interprets result. Provides results to Results Recorder. Ensures cleaning of processing desks.
Results Recorder Collates results from Processor and uploads to the NHS Test and Trace service and the School’s COVID-19 Test Register.
Cleaner/s Cleans the testing desks, and ensures waste is correctly disposed of, including working with waste provider to dispose of clinical waste.
The roles of Quality Lead and COVID-19 Co-ordinator could be combined.
It is recommended that more than one person is trained in each role to enable operation to
continue in the event of staff absence.
A template (Appendix A1) showing the composition of the school’s testing team should be
completed and kept updated.
COVID-19 Lateral Flow Testing Quality Plan
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Quality checklist
Briefing the school community
Quality criteria Checked by Frequency/ nature of check
All staff informed of school’s participation in lateral flow testing and provided with information on how this will impact on their daily work.
Quality lead Before testing commences
All parents informed of school’s participation in lateral flow testing and its implications for them and their children.
Quality lead Before testing commences
All pupils informed of school’s participation in lateral flow testing and what this means for them.
Quality lead Before testing commences
Recruitment and training of staff
Quality criteria Checked by Frequency nature of check
Sufficient school staff identified to fulfil roles of:
• COVID-19 co-ordinator
• Registration assistant
• Results recorder
• Cleaner
Quality lead Before testing commences
Sufficient school staff or other personnel identified/recruited to fulfil roles of:
• Quality lead/Team leader
• Test assistant(s)
• Processor(s)
Quality lead Before testing commences
All members of the team who are in regulated roles have received satisfactory enhanced DBS checks.
Quality lead with support of DSL
Before testing commences
Arrangements in place for any members of the team who have not received enhanced DBS checks are supervised at all times on site.
Quality lead Before testing commences
All members of the Testing Team have completed the online training programme for their role. The certificates of satisfactory completion are checked and stored centrally.
Quality lead Before testing commences
COVID-19 Lateral Flow Testing Quality Plan
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More than one person has received training to undertake each role in order that testing can be continued in the event of staff absence.
Quality lead Before testing commences
All staff have participated in a ‘walk through’ of the process prior to undertaking their roles.
Quality lead Before testing commences
All test assistants (swabbers) have satisfactorily completed competency assessment (Appendix B1) prior to being deployed.
Quality lead Before testing commences
All processing operatives have satisfactorily completed competency assessment (Appendix B2) prior to being deployed.
Quality lead Before testing commences
All results recorders have satisfactorily completed competency assessment (Appendix B3) prior to being deployed.
Quality lead Before testing commences
Wider communications
Quality criteria Checked by Frequency/nature of check
School’s insurers informed of school’s participation in COVID-19 testing programme.
Quality lead Before testing commences
Privacy notice placed on school’s website.
Quality lead Before testing commences
Body that deals with school’s waste disposal notified that school will be disposing of clinical waste.
Quality lead Before testing commences
Risk assessment
Quality criteria Checked by Frequency/nature of check
Risk assessment in place that covers all risks relating to COVID-19 testing (Appendix D1).
Quality lead Before testing commences
Reviews of COVID-19 risk assessment are scheduled and undertaken in a timely way.
Quality lead Weekly
COVID-19 Lateral Flow Testing Quality Plan
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Arranging supervision of pupils
Quality criteria Checked by Frequency/nature of check
Procedures and supervision are in place for pupils identified as close contacts requiring serial testing to arrive at school and proceed to the testing base before they enter.
Quality lead Before testing commences then daily
Routes from classrooms to testing base and return are established.
Quality lead Before testing commences
Procedures for accompanying batches of pupils to testing base and returning them to classrooms are established.
Quality lead Before testing commences then daily
There are sufficient staff to supervise pupils within the testing base.
Quality lead Before testing commences then daily
There are sufficient staff to supervise pupils who need to wait for test results following serial testing.
Quality lead Before testing commences then daily
Arrangements are in place to ensure that pupils register their details on the NHS Test and Trace website.
Quality lead Before testing commences then daily
Identifying suitable base
Quality criteria Checked by Frequency/nature of check
Testing base is large enough to accommodate registration area, swabbing bays, processing desks and testing kits.
Quality lead Before testing commences
2 metres social distance can be maintained between individuals attending the testing base – adequate space between bays.
Quality lead Before testing commences
A holding area is available close to the base (or within it) to accommodate pupils/staff awaiting test results (during serial testing only).
Quality lead Before testing commences
Test kits and equipment are stored within or close to the testing base.
Quality lead Before testing commences
Testing base is well ventilated.
Quality lead Before testing commences then daily
Testing base is well lit. Quality lead Before testing commences then daily
COVID-19 Lateral Flow Testing Quality Plan
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Temperature of 15-30 degrees Celsius can be maintained in testing base.
Quality lead Before testing commences then daily
Testing base has a non-porous floor.
Quality lead Before testing commences
All surfaces in the testing base can be easily cleaned with standard cleaning products.
Quality lead Before testing commences
Testing base is easily accessible from a school entrance.
Quality lead Before testing commences
One-way-system can be operated through the base (separate entrance/exit).
Quality lead Before testing commences
Setting up registration and recording system
Quality criteria Checked by Frequency/nature of check
Quality lead/ Team leader online registration completed (following instructions in Digital Guidebook for Schools and Colleges).
Quality lead Before testing commences
Online account set up by Quality lead / team leader (following instructions in Digital Guidebook for Schools and Colleges).
Quality lead Before testing commences
Details of results recorders are entered on NHS Test and Trace website (following instructions in Digital Guidebook for Schools and Colleges).
Quality lead Before testing commences
Appendix C1 Template COVID-19 Test Register on school device and adapted for school use.
Quality lead Before testing commences
Process established for subjects to be able to complete lite registration process for each test.
Quality lead Before testing commences
Securing consent for lateral flow testing
Quality criteria Checked by Frequency/nature of check
All parents and staff are issued with privacy notice to inform them about personal data handling.
Quality lead Before testing commences
All parents of pupils aged 16 or younger have been sent letters explaining process
Quality lead Before testing commences
COVID-19 Lateral Flow Testing Quality Plan
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and requesting consent for testing.
Sixth formers have been provided with information and letters requesting consent for testing.
Quality lead Before testing commences
All staff have been provided with information and letters requesting consent for testing.
Quality lead Before testing commences
Additional information sharing sessions (such as webinars and, where necessary, individual phone calls) have been arranged/delivered.
Quality lead Before testing commences
Records of consent for testing of pupils and staff are recorded on the COVID-19 Test Register, which is maintained securely.
Quality lead Before testing commences then daily updates
Scheduling testing
Quality criteria Checked by Frequency/nature of checks
The capacity of the testing base is known (assume 1 test per bay per 4 minutes initially). Include breaks for testing team.
Quality lead Before testing commences
Manageable schedule is devised whereby:
• consistent bubbles are tested on the same weekday (mass testing)
• test slots for serial testing are allocated prior to start of school day (for 7 consecutive days per subject)
• weekly staff testing is arranged by appointment at convenient times
Quality lead Before testing commences then daily
School staff are made aware of the testing schedule for each day so that they know when lessons may be disrupted.
Quality lead Before testing commences then daily updates
COVID-19 Lateral Flow Testing Quality Plan
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Taking delivery and storing equipment
Quality criteria Checked by Frequency/nature of checks
Deliveries from NHS Test and Trace are checked on arrival and lists of contents retained.
Quality lead Before testing commences
Testing supplies are safely maintained at temperatures between 2 and 30 degrees Celsius.
Quality lead Before testing commences then spot checks
Setting up the testing base
Quality criteria Checked by Frequency/nature of checks
Testing base is cleaned and prepared for set up the day before testing commences (model layout provided in of the DFE / NHS ‘How to Guide’).
Quality lead Before first live testing then daily
The following items are provided by the school and put in position in the testing base according to the diagrams given in the DFE / NHS ‘How to Guide’:
• tables
• chairs
• hand sanitiser
• disinfectant wipes
• mop and bucket
• tissues
• laminated signage to indicate the different areas in the test base – registration, swabbing, processing, results recording, plus directional arrows
• clocks/timer
• mirrors
• trays to transfer tests to the processing table
• tube racks (can be microarray test tube racks)
• tape to separate bays
• first aid supplies
• stationery – paper, pens
• laptop for test results upload
• printer
• bar code readers
Quality lead Before first live testing then daily
COVID-19 Lateral Flow Testing Quality Plan
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• COVID-19 Test Register for registration and reporting
The following items are provided by NHS Test and Trace and arranged in the testing base according to the diagrams given in the DFE / NHS ‘How to Guide’:
• lateral flow test kits
• bar codes
• waste disposal bags
• PPE – gloves, aprons, masks, visors
• bowls
Quality lead Before testing commences then daily
There is 1 metre distance between the testing bay and the processing area.
Quality lead Before testing commences then daily
Conducting a walk through
Quality criteria Checked by Frequency/nature of checks
Following set up, all testing personnel conduct a walk through of the testing base before commencing their roles.
Quality lead Before first live tests and whenever new staff join team
Any questions arising are answered.
Quality lead Before first live tests and whenever new staff join team
Conducting testing: registration
Quality criteria Checked by Frequency/nature of checks
Registration assistant wears mask.
Quality lead Daily
Registration assistant directs subjects to sanitise their hands.
Quality lead Daily
Registration assistant maintains social distance from subjects and emphasises that they should maintain distance in the testing base.
Quality lead Daily
Registration assistant checks that consent has been given for testing (and does not let subject proceed unless consent is in place).
Quality lead Daily
Registration assistant issues subject with bar code.
Quality lead Daily
Registration assistant manages the queue of subjects arriving at the testing base.
Quality lead Daily
COVID-19 Lateral Flow Testing Quality Plan
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Registration assistant keeps the COVID-19 Test Register up to date.
Quality lead Daily
Conducting testing: swabbing
Quality criteria Checked by Frequency/nature of checks
Test assistant wears correct PPE throughout procedure.
Quality lead Daily
Test assistant gives clear instructions in a courteous manner.
Quality lead Daily
Test assistant manages situations such as inability to swab.
Quality lead Daily
Test assistant administers swabbing safely and correctly if pupil cannot self-swab and consents to administered swabbing.
Quality lead Daily
Test assistant disinfects surfaces between each subject test.
Quality lead Daily
Conducting testing: processing
Quality criteria Checked by Frequency/nature of checks
Processor wears correct PPE throughout procedure.
Quality lead Daily
Processor conducts mixing carefully, using squeezing action and checking for bubbles.
Quality lead Daily
Processor conducts sampling carefully – including applying bar code to LFD, sampling two drops on device and recording read time.
Quality lead Daily
Processor sanitises processing area between tests and discards wipes correctly.
Quality lead Daily
Processor sanitises hands and dons new gloves between each test.
Quality lead Daily
Processor reads and records results at the correct time.
Quality lead Daily
Processor seeks advice from quality lead when appropriate.
Quality lead Daily
COVID-19 Lateral Flow Testing Quality Plan
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Conducting testing: recording of results
Quality criteria Checked by Frequency/nature of checks
All subjects (staff and pupils being tested) are registered on COVID-19 Test Register and NHS Test and Trace.
Quality lead Daily
All results are logged on the COVID-19 Test Register.
Quality lead Daily
All results are reported on NHS Test and Trace website.
Quality lead Daily
All subjects who have been tested have their results reported by the end of the test day.
Quality lead Daily
Conducting testing: cleaning and waste disposal
Quality criteria Checked by Frequency/nature of checks
Cleaner ensures that correct disposal bags are placed in each area (black bags for packaging; yellow/clear bags for swabs, discarded tissues and wipes and used test cartridges; tiger bags for used PPE, cleaning cloths and mop heads).
Quality lead Daily
Cleaner uses appropriate cleaning solutions and equipment which is assigned to the testing base.
Quality lead Daily
Cleaner maintains condition of testing base throughout the process.
Quality lead Daily
Cleaner keeps check on levels of sanitiser and availability of cleansing wipes in the testing bays and processing area, replenishing as necessary.
Quality lead Daily
Cleaner ensures that any spillages are quickly and appropriately cleaned up.
Quality lead Daily
Cleaner disposes of waste appropriately in correct bags.
Quality lead Daily
COVID-19 Lateral Flow Testing Quality Plan
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Conducting testing: site culture and efficiency of end-to-end process
Quality criteria Checked by Frequency/nature of checks
Bar codes are correctly affixed to LFDs and results are correctly recorded against the correct subject.
Quality lead Daily
PPE is donned and doffed correctly by all members of the team who use it.
Quality lead Daily
Handover process is carefully managed in the event that any members of the team leave the testing base to be replaced by other staff.
Quality lead Daily
Culture is positive, with good teamwork in evidence and willingness to learn from any mistakes.
Quality lead Daily
Managing positive cases
Quality criteria Checked by Frequency/nature of checks
Positive cases quickly identified by the results recorder.
Quality lead Daily
Results recorder immediately informs quality lead of positive result.
Quality lead Daily
Quality lead initiates isolation of subject.
Quality lead Daily
Parent of subject (if a pupil) is contacted to collect subject from school and return home to self-isolate.
Quality lead Daily
Any pupil or staff member who tests positive is given a PCR test to conduct at home.
Quality lead Daily
Positive subject (if staff member) is contacted immediately and sent home to self-isolate.
Quality lead Daily
Identification of close contacts initiated swiftly.
Quality lead Daily
Managing negative cases
Quality criteria Checked by Frequency/nature of checks
Pupils and staff who test negative continue their normal school day.
Quality lead Daily
Pupils or staff who test negative but who have been identified as close contacts
Quality lead Daily
COVID-19 Lateral Flow Testing Quality Plan
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of a positive case engage in serial testing for seven days.
Record keeping
Quality criteria Checked by Frequency/nature of checks
COVID 19 Test Register is kept of subjects tested and their results (identifiable via bar coding).
Quality lead Daily
Quality Checklist (Appendix A1) is completed before first testing commences and revisited if new team member join or a new testing base is established).
Quality lead Before testing commences and as necessary during the implementation process
Daily quality check sheets (Appendix A3 are retained).
Quality lead Daily
Notes are kept of any incidents that arise during the process and of the action taken in response.
Quality lead Daily
Compliance with GDPR
Quality criteria Checked by Frequency/nature of checks
Data is securely maintained. Quality lead Daily
Personal data is maintained within the COVID-19 Test Register for a minimum of 14 days and destroyed within 1 month of the testing programme ending.
Quality lead Daily from checking COVID-19 Test Register
COVID-19 Lateral Flow Testing Quality Plan
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Appendices
Appendix A1 Template: School’s COVID-19 testing team
Appendix A2 Quality checklist (to be completed before first testing
commences and revisited if new team members join or a
new testing base is established)
Appendix A3 Quality checklist (to be completed daily)
Appendix B1 School test assistant / swabber competency assessment
Appendix B2 School processor competency assessment
Appendix B3 School results recorder competency assessment
Appendix C1 Template COVID-19 test register
Appendix D1 COVID-19 risk assessment: school based asymptomatic
testing
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