December 13th, 2021

To: School Communities

 

RE: PCR Self-Collection

 

Families of A R Kaufman School

In an effort to improve timely access to tests and to continue to support our schools, students, staff, and families, the WRDSB and AR Kaufman Public School are pleased to be able to work in partnership with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health and Ontario Health to deliver a PCR self-collection testing option. 

 

The PCR self-collection testing option will help increase access and testing uptake for students who are either symptomatic, or students and staff who are part of an asymptomatic high-risk contacts/exposed cohorts (e.g. a class that has been exposed to COVID-19 because one member of the class has tested positive). 

 

Please note, your participation and usage of the PCR self-collection kit is voluntary. Students, staff and families continue to have the option to seek testing through their local testing sites. For testing locations in your area, please visit: 

 

https://covid-19.ontario.ca/assessment-centre-locations 

 

You are encouraged to review the website in advance of completing a PCR self-collection kit to determine the appropriate testing option based on geographic location and local context. 

If you choose to participate, please read the important information below prior to using the take-home self-collection kit. 

 

NOTE: Please follow any directions provided by your local Public Health Unit (PHU), including any directions for self-isolation. If directions from your PHU are different from the instructions provided below, your PHU’s directions should be followed. 

 

When to Use a PCR Self-Collection Kit: 

  • This testing option will be made available to both symptomatic students as well as asymptomatic high-risk contacts/exposed cohorts, including students and staff. 

 

Using the PCR Self-Collection kit: 

  • Please follow the instructions provided in the PCR self-collection kit. 
  • Please use the PCR self-collection kit in the morning before you drop it off at a participating community location. 
    • A collected specimen has a 24-hour shelf life and it is very important that the specimen is collected the same morning that it is dropped-off. 
  • How-to video: How to Collect Your Own COVID-19 Oral and Nasal Sample – YouTube
  • Ensure that you have completed all of the required information on the test requisition and the specimen tube.
    • Label the specimen tube with the date of collection, your full name and either your Health Card Number (required for accessing results online) or date of birth.
    • Complete all required fields of the COVID-19 test requisition. 
    • To find a community location in your area, please visit: COVID-19 testing locations (ontario.ca) – Filter by <Accepts PCR Self-Collection Kits>
      URL:  https://covid-19.ontario.ca/assessment-centre-locations
    • Note that this website is updated on an ongoing basis.

 

Completing the Test Requisition Form 

  • Please ensure you complete the requisition form that is found inside the self-collection kit and follow the instructions provided. 
    • You are required to complete the requisition form with the following school-specific investigation number: Your school investigation number is : [placeholder for school sites to insert unique investigation number]

 

Accessing your results: 

  • If you provided your Health Card Number and all required patient information in the test requisition form, your test results will be accessible at: https://covid19results.ehealthontario.ca:4443/ 
  • Results are usually available within two days of your specimen being dropped-off. 
  • If you test positive for COVID-19, you will get a call from your local Public Health Unit with further instructions. 

 

If your results are not available online via the COVID-19 Test Results Viewer, do NOT contact the Public Health Ontario laboratory directly. Instead, please contact the location where you dropped your test off.