Pooled Testing

Concentric by Ginkgo, a service provided by Ginkgo Bioworks, Inc., is providing COVID-19 testing in the form of “pooled testing” to our students and staff of the Montclair Public Schools, by consent. Information and consent forms have been communicated to parents and staff, through the Genesis Parent Portal and a centralized staff distribution. See overview presentation.

The program involves collecting nasal swabs from each participant on-site at your school. Each swab will be placed in a common tube for that classroom or group and sent off and tested in a central laboratory. The test detects whether the virus that causes COVID-19 is present in that pooled sample. The purpose of this Program is to help school administrators make informed decisions about school safety and operations. This test is intended to investigate the presence of COVID-19 within groups and should not be used for diagnostic purposes. A Testing Coordinator has been secured by the District, and will be administering the school-based testing. Specific schedules will be forthcoming from the Testing Coordinator. The general schedule and protocol is attached to this email.

Again, this is consent based, and the information on who is authorized to be tested is available in the Genesis database under “Reports” < “User Flag Report” (21470) < Select the School (top of screen) < Change Output format to Excel (XLS) < Select a User Flag (Scroll down to GC-Ginkgo Consent” < Schedule Report < Download XLSX Report < Open. Then the Excel document can be sorted by A to Z, by homeroom. These reports should be provided to the Testing Coordinator upon their arrival to the school.

Please see Montclair Public Schools' Frequently Asked Questions

In addition, visit Gingko Bioworks' Frequently Asked Questions page for further information. 

See details: 

Schedule 

  • Testing will begin the week of October 25, 2021 and continue through December 17, 2021
  • PCR Pooled Testing days are Monday and Tuesday
  • Testing will not occur on days when school is not in session. Testing will occur on abbreviated days
  • Testing protocol will be administered two days a week for each school; with one day for testing and one day for on-site readiness for antigen testing, as needed
  • The school (administrator/designee) will notify parents if their children need to have the antigen test (which would occur within 48 hours after pooled testing)
  • Antigen testing preparedness days are Wednesday and Thursday

Locations

Pooled testing is currently scheduled to occur outside in tented locations.

Pooled Testing Updates

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