- Wake County Public School System
- COVID-19 Testing
On-campus COVID-19 testing
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Wake County Public School System, in partnership with MAKO Medical, will begin offering weekly, on-campus COVID-19 testing for students and staff. COVID-19 testing is an effective way to reduce transmission, especially when layered with other precautionary measures.
We strongly recommend all families participate in this free program. Participation helps safeguard the wellbeing of the entire school community and gives you information to help you keep your children healthy.
Participation in the program is voluntary. A parent or guardian must register any student under 18 years old in order to participate. To learn more about COVID-19 testing, visit www.MAKOstrongschoolsNC.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What kind of COVID-19 test will be done?
The screening surveillance testing will be pooled PCR tests. Professionally trained MAKO staff will use nasal swabs with the anterior nares collection method(front of the nostrils). If individual follow up tests are required, they too will be PCR tests.
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Which schools are offering COVID-19 testing?
As of November 2021, the following schools will offer testing: Baileywick Road Elementary, Briarcliff Elementary, Carver Elementary, East Garner Elementary, Hortons Creek Elementary, Ligon Middle, Mills Park Elementary, North Forest Pines Elementary, Oakview Elementary, Sanford Creek Elementary and White Oak Elementary. We will expand testing to all schools in 2022.
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How will the COVID-19 testing program work?
MAKO Medical staff will conduct weekly “pooled” COVID testing on all students and staff registered to participate. Pooling can test 2-6 people using one test and provide results quickly. The testing is simple: Trained MAKO Medical staff quickly and gently swab students’ noses. They place all the swabs in a single tube (that’s the pooling step). The samples in that tube are then run as a single sample, using one test. If a positive test is received, everyone in the “pool” will return to school the next day to take another test to identify the person who tested positive for COVID-19. Learn more about pooled testing.
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If my child’s “pool” tests positive, will they have to stay home?
No. If a “pool” tests positive, all students return to school to take another test, unless the student is also displaying symptoms of COVID-19 or meets one of the other criteria for being excluded from school (e.g., the student has separately been identified as a close contact of someone diagnosed with COVID-19). If the second individual test is positive for COVID-19, they will be required to quarantine.
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Who will perform the tests in WCPSS?
State-approved vendor Mako will conduct the screening surveillance testing at all schools.
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Who will be interpreting the results?
The Mako Medical laboratory technicians will be processing the PCR tests and interpreting results at their highly accredited Henderson, NC laboratory.
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What type of test will be used?
The screening surveillance testing will be pooled PCR tests.
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Where will the tests be performed?
Tests will be conducted at each school site.
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Will WCPSS require parental consent before testing students for COVID-19?
Yes. A parent or guardian must register any K-12 student under 18 years old in order for a COVID-19 test to be administered. Pre-K students who attend school within K-12 school buildings are eligible for the state-approved vendor testing with Mako. However, Pre-K students who attend school outside of K-12 school buildings are not eligible for the state-approved vendor testing with Mako.
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Who has access to my child’s test results?
Test results will be available to the school principal, school COVID-19 coordinators, local public health department, and district designees coordinating testing efforts. The entire testing program is FERPA and HIPAA protected from collection to result. Personally Identifiable Information and Patient Health Information access is highly restricted to ONLY those designated to view them.
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What if I don’t want my child to be tested?
The COVID-19 testing program, although strongly encouraged, is optional.
Register today!
Families can register for on-campus COVID-19 testing. For families that have multiple students at multiple schools, you must fill out an individual form under the student's individual school. We will expand testing to all schools in 2022. Your school will notify you when you are able to register.
