NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The State of Tennessee is expected to get its first shipment of rapid COVID-19 tests next week. However, some are concerned about their accuracy in children and teenagers.
These tests are specifically being sent to states to be used at schools, but according to the FDA's website, these tests haven't been sampled on anyone under the age of 21. This means, there's really no telling how effective these rapid tests are with young people.
Dr. Gigi Gronvall, a top researcher from Johns Hopkins University, said studies show the virus is similar in children and adults. So, they feel the tests should work, even though they have no evidence.
“The company is still ramping up production and they won't have those tests until the end of the year, so there’s that problem. The next problem is there’s no strategy for how to use it or how a school should attempt to use this for students,” Gronvall said.
Tennessee Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey says the tests are easy, and the results from the nasal swab come back in just 15 minutes. While that's encouraging, districts still need guidance on how they'll be used.
Another concern is these tests are meant to be done in a lab. Obviously, schools don't have that luxury. Districts will also need to get a waiver to administer the tests, which would fall on school staff or nurses.
NewsChannel 5 reached out to Metro Nashville Public Schools to see if they'll get these tests and if so, who will be trained on how to give them. They shared the following response:
"We have not received any specific information about the tests relative to MNPS. We would not anticipate teachers administering tests. We are in the process of hiring school nurses for all of our schools."
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