Results of Testing Children for SARS-CoV-2 through a Community-based Testing Site

Simpson, Joelle N.; Goyal, Monika K.; Cohen, Joanna S.; Badolato, Gia M.; McGuire, Mark; Ralph, Abigail; Boyle, Meleah D.; Hamburger, Ellen K.; Gorman, Kathleen C.; Cora-Bramble, Denice; Delaney, Meghan

OBJECTIVE: To describe the demographics, clinical features and test results of children referred from their primary provider for SARS-CoV-2 in the community setting. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cross-sectional study of children ≤22 years of age who were tested for SARS-CoV-2 at a community-based specimen collection site in Washington, DC affiliated with a large children’s hospital between March 21 and May 16, 2020. RESULTS: Of the 1445 patients tested at the specimen collection site for SARS-CoV-2 virus, 408 (28.2%) had a positive PCR test. The daily positivity rate increased over the study period, from 5.4% during the first week to a peak of 47.4%. (P-trend <0.001). Patients with fever (aOR: 1.7; 95% CI 1.3, 2.3) or cough (aOR 1.4; 95% CI 1.1, 1.9) and those with known contact with someone with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (aOR: 1.6; 95% CI 1.0, 2.4.) were more likely have a positive test, but these features were not-highly discriminating. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort of mildly symptomatic or well children and adolescents referred to a community drive-through/walk-up SARS-CoV-2 testing site because of risk of exposure or clinical illness, one in four patients had a positive test. Children and young adults represent a considerable burden of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Assessment of their role in transmission is essential to implementing appropriate control measures.