COVID-19 Testing at TBS
PCR Testing
- Sign up for an account here.
- Schedule your test here (Thursdays from 7:45am-12pm only): PCR Testing Appointment Calendar. Note: If you are scheduling last minute, please also email mwagner@tbsneedham.org so we can get your account set up.
- Pay for your test. ($50)
Antigen Testing
1. Schedule your test here: TBS Antigen Testing Appointment Calendar
2. Pay for your test: Rapid Antigen Test ($10)
3. Get the app set up:
Abbott BinaxNOW is a rapid antigen test which uses a lower nasal swab and gives results in about 15 minutes. Recent studies demonstrate that the tests have excellent sensitivity in detecting high viral load in both adults and children. The swift turnaround time for results and the reliability of the test make it a valuable tool to reduce risk of viral transmission in our community.
TBS Rapid Testing FAQs
Does my child still need to get tested outside of TBS?
You still need PCR test in the following circumstances:
Yes. Although we are transitioning from the weekly PCR tests, we are maintaining our arrangement with CIC Health and can still offer PCR surveillance tests on Thursdays. We recommend that you continue to test visitors such as babysitters who regularly spend time in your household. It is up to you to decide which type of test you prefer:
Why hasn’t TBS been using the BinaxNOW for the past month?
These tests have been provided for free to all public and private K-12 schools in Massachusetts by the Department of Public Health and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Unfortunately tests were not provided to early childhood or afterschool programs. This allowed these K-12 schools easy and free access to rapid testing, but left Abbott, the manufacturer, without any tests to sell to other institutions. The supply of these tests remains extremely limited, but Abbott has just begun to allow other schools to purchase tests. Permission from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health is required to run these tests onsite and TBS was granted that permission last week, enabling Abbott to fulfill our order of test kits just today.
Is this mandatory?
No, it is not mandatory. However, we strongly encourage all families to participate in this critical community mitigation strategy. Similarly to wearing a mask or washing hands, this strategy protects others in our school community and beyond. If you have questions or concerns about participating, we ask that you let us know so we can address those questions or concerns. We want to make the program work for all families.
What is the cost?
TBS will be covering the full cost for all enrolled children, which is $15 per test, $5 for the test kit itself and $10 for the administration.
How will I find out my child's results?
Results will be delivered via Abbott’s Navica app. If your child tests positive, we will also contact you for pick up. On a weekly basis, as part of our regular weekly newsletter, we will report total tests administered and total tests negative and positive. At the recommendation of the health department, we are also moving notification of any household positives (regardless of testing location) to this weekly report. Next week, you will receive information on how to download and set up the app.
What can I expect if my child tests positive for COVID via a test at school?
We will call you to ask you to pick your child up as soon as possible and contact your pediatrician for instructions.
What kind of test is it?
The test is a rapid antigen test strip, which gives results directly on the strip, much like a home pregnancy test. This is the less invasive test, which extends into the nose no further than the soft tip of a Q-Tip would. If you are curious about the test and the reliability of antigen testing, read this fact-packed overview by Brown University economics professor Emily Oster.
How is the test administered?
The process is the same as you have been doing with the swabbing at home and many children will be able to self swab with guidance. Several of our educators will be trained to administer the swab ensuring the process is guided by someone who understands child development and is sensitive to their needs.
What if my child resists the swab?
We want TBS to continue to be a place children love! Swabbing will be done with child development at the forefront. If a child strongly resists, we will pause and try again at another time. No child will be forced into swabbing if they feel uncomfortable.
How are we leveraging our testing efforts to support others?
You may have seen the recent press coverage of our COVID-testing program at TBS, and while we are proud of our efforts to get our own Mayim Tamid and Children's Center students, faculty, and staff tested regularly to avoid virus spread, we are particularly happy that our work on testing is benefiting communities beyond our own, as we had hoped. Since the stories of our testing were published, and throughout the pandemic, we have been receiving phone calls from other institutions - Jewish and not - who want to learn from what we've done so they can do the same. We continue to regularly support these organizations with matters ranging from policy formation, to communications, to effective and caring responses to positive cases in their communities. As part of the planning process to set up our testing program, we were in touch with a group trying to implement regular testing in low-income Boston preschools, and are participating in advocacy work with Governor Baker to provide free testing for all in the Commonwealth. So too, when we heard that some Needham residents can't access free testing sites due to lack of transportation, we invited Needham's Public Health and Social Service Departments to notify us of anyone in that position so that we can get them tested through TBS. We will continue to live by Rabbi Hillel's famous teaching, "If we do not take care of ourselves, who will do so for us, but if we only worry about ourselves...what kind of people are we?"
2. Pay for your test: Rapid Antigen Test ($10)
3. Get the app set up:
- Install Abbott’s NAVICA app from Google Play or App Store.
- Create an account for yourself
- In the upper right hand corner there is an outline of a little person. Click that and it opens your “Account and Settings”.
- Click the option to “Connect an Organization”.
- Enter the connect code that you received in your invitation email.
Abbott BinaxNOW is a rapid antigen test which uses a lower nasal swab and gives results in about 15 minutes. Recent studies demonstrate that the tests have excellent sensitivity in detecting high viral load in both adults and children. The swift turnaround time for results and the reliability of the test make it a valuable tool to reduce risk of viral transmission in our community.
TBS Rapid Testing FAQs
- Does my child still need to get tested outside of TBS?
- Can I continue to participate in the PCR testing program for my child/myself at TBS? I employ a babysitter/nanny/housekeeper. How should I test them?
- Why hasn’t TBS been using the BinaxNOW for the past month?
- Is this mandatory?
- What is the cost?
- How will I find out my child's results?
- What can I expect if my child tests positive for COVID via a test at school?
- What kind of test is it?
- How is the test administered?
- What if my child resists the swab?
- How are we leveraging our testing efforts to support others?
Does my child still need to get tested outside of TBS?
You still need PCR test in the following circumstances:
- When recommended by your doctor.
- When returning to MA from out of state
Yes. Although we are transitioning from the weekly PCR tests, we are maintaining our arrangement with CIC Health and can still offer PCR surveillance tests on Thursdays. We recommend that you continue to test visitors such as babysitters who regularly spend time in your household. It is up to you to decide which type of test you prefer:
- Rapid test: $15 for those affiliated with TBS. ($20 for others) Must be swabbed at TBS, with family appointments available at flexible days and times. Results are delivered within 15 minutes.
- PCR: $50 for those affiliated with TBS. ($80 for others) Can be swabbed at home or at TBS. Only takes place on Thursdays. Results are typically returned Friday evening or Saturday morning.
Why hasn’t TBS been using the BinaxNOW for the past month?
These tests have been provided for free to all public and private K-12 schools in Massachusetts by the Department of Public Health and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Unfortunately tests were not provided to early childhood or afterschool programs. This allowed these K-12 schools easy and free access to rapid testing, but left Abbott, the manufacturer, without any tests to sell to other institutions. The supply of these tests remains extremely limited, but Abbott has just begun to allow other schools to purchase tests. Permission from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health is required to run these tests onsite and TBS was granted that permission last week, enabling Abbott to fulfill our order of test kits just today.
Is this mandatory?
No, it is not mandatory. However, we strongly encourage all families to participate in this critical community mitigation strategy. Similarly to wearing a mask or washing hands, this strategy protects others in our school community and beyond. If you have questions or concerns about participating, we ask that you let us know so we can address those questions or concerns. We want to make the program work for all families.
What is the cost?
TBS will be covering the full cost for all enrolled children, which is $15 per test, $5 for the test kit itself and $10 for the administration.
How will I find out my child's results?
Results will be delivered via Abbott’s Navica app. If your child tests positive, we will also contact you for pick up. On a weekly basis, as part of our regular weekly newsletter, we will report total tests administered and total tests negative and positive. At the recommendation of the health department, we are also moving notification of any household positives (regardless of testing location) to this weekly report. Next week, you will receive information on how to download and set up the app.
What can I expect if my child tests positive for COVID via a test at school?
We will call you to ask you to pick your child up as soon as possible and contact your pediatrician for instructions.
What kind of test is it?
The test is a rapid antigen test strip, which gives results directly on the strip, much like a home pregnancy test. This is the less invasive test, which extends into the nose no further than the soft tip of a Q-Tip would. If you are curious about the test and the reliability of antigen testing, read this fact-packed overview by Brown University economics professor Emily Oster.
How is the test administered?
The process is the same as you have been doing with the swabbing at home and many children will be able to self swab with guidance. Several of our educators will be trained to administer the swab ensuring the process is guided by someone who understands child development and is sensitive to their needs.
What if my child resists the swab?
We want TBS to continue to be a place children love! Swabbing will be done with child development at the forefront. If a child strongly resists, we will pause and try again at another time. No child will be forced into swabbing if they feel uncomfortable.
How are we leveraging our testing efforts to support others?
You may have seen the recent press coverage of our COVID-testing program at TBS, and while we are proud of our efforts to get our own Mayim Tamid and Children's Center students, faculty, and staff tested regularly to avoid virus spread, we are particularly happy that our work on testing is benefiting communities beyond our own, as we had hoped. Since the stories of our testing were published, and throughout the pandemic, we have been receiving phone calls from other institutions - Jewish and not - who want to learn from what we've done so they can do the same. We continue to regularly support these organizations with matters ranging from policy formation, to communications, to effective and caring responses to positive cases in their communities. As part of the planning process to set up our testing program, we were in touch with a group trying to implement regular testing in low-income Boston preschools, and are participating in advocacy work with Governor Baker to provide free testing for all in the Commonwealth. So too, when we heard that some Needham residents can't access free testing sites due to lack of transportation, we invited Needham's Public Health and Social Service Departments to notify us of anyone in that position so that we can get them tested through TBS. We will continue to live by Rabbi Hillel's famous teaching, "If we do not take care of ourselves, who will do so for us, but if we only worry about ourselves...what kind of people are we?"
