Mirimus COVID-19 Testing Program Guide

Westchester County Schools

Top 3 Reasons a COVID-19 Testing Program is Being Implemented at Your School

Testing helps us to catch any cases of COVID-19 before they become outbreaks. In almost half of COVID cases, the individual does not experience symptoms but can still spread COVID-19, which is why testing everyone regularly helps to prevent spread and keep our schools open safely.

1. Help prevent COVID-19 spread in school

School COVID-19 testing programs reliably catch cases in those without symptoms that otherwise might have gone unnoticed. By isolating those individuals before they have a chance to infect others, school COVID-19 testing programs reduce school closures and enable more sustainable in-person learning.
“Weekly testing of all students, teachers, and staff can reduce in-school infections by an estimated 50 percent”

Rand Corporation and Mathematica Report, commissioned by the Rockefeller Foundation, 02-04-21

2. Build confidence among families and staff

Many schools have opened with far less than full attendance, school screening programs can help reassure nervous families and staff that schools are in fact safe places to learn and work.

3. Protect the broader community

By increasing the testing resources in the community, school COVID-19 testing programs enable students and families to protect their family, friends, and community and provide more information for local public health leaders to continue fighting the virus.
“Nearly half of all SARS-CoV-2 infections are transmitted by people who are not showing any symptoms…A positive test early in the course of the illness enables individuals to isolate themselves – reducing the chances that they will infect others and allowing them to seek treatment earlier, likely reducing disease severity and the risk of long-term disability, or death.”

NIH Leadership Message, 9-04-2020

What type of test does Mirimus use?

Mirimus uses a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test to detect viral RNA in your saliva or nasal swab sample. The test is performed in a laboratory where the presence of viral RNA can be detected even before antibodies or symptoms of the disease are present. This means the tests can tell whether or not someone has the virus very early on in their illness.

During the PCR testing, enzymes are added to the samples to copy any viral RNA that may be present. This is so that enough copies of the RNA are present to signal a positive result. Only the SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA that causes COVID-19 can be copied so that it is the only virus detected by the testing.

Mirimus also uses surveillance pool testing to increase sample processing throughput and lower the cost of testing.

How do I self-collect my saliva sample?

Saliva Self-Collection Kit Instructions

  • This kit is for saliva collection only.
  • Do not deposit mucus, phlegm, blood, other substances, or foreign objects.
  • Do not eat, drink, smoke, chew gum, or brush your teeth at least 30 minutes prior to providing your sample.
  • Do not use mouthwash for at least 2 hours prior to providing your sample.
Open collection kit sample bag and remove all contents.
Take sample collection tube and saliva straw out of sterile package.
Unscrew collection tube cap and insert ridged end of saliva straw into tube.
Pool saliva in mouth and push saliva into tube until at least half full (1 mL).
Remove and discard straw and securely cap collection tube.
Place collection tube in sample kit bag, seal, and return to collection site.

Kids Self-Collection Kit Video

Adult Self-Collection Kit Video

How do I get test results?

After samples have been collected and transported to the lab your sample will be processed with all the samples received from your school. When processing is finished, typically within 24 hours of receiving your samples at our lab, results will be made available to your school administration though the Mirimus results portal.

Your school administration will review results and take action and communicate to participants that have positive or inconclusive or invalid results. If your individual results are positive, your school will contact you by phone or email and direct you to your next steps of confirmatory testing and possible quarantine.

What do my results mean?

Negative (not detected) individual or pool test result
If your individual test result is negative (not detected) the presence of SARS-CoV-2 was not detected in the sample that you provided at the time of collection.

If a pool test result is negative (not detected), then all the samples can be presumed negative with the single test. In other words, all the people who provided samples can be assumed to test negative for SARS-CoV-2 infection (presumptively negative).

Positive (detected) pool test result
If a pool test is positive (detected), a Reflex test will be performed where each sample will immediately be tested by PCR individually. Results will be reported in smaller subpools containing two samples. Results administrators must release PHI (Name, DOB, Address, Phone Number, Gender, Race) for the two samples within the “Detected” subpool for release to the NYS DOH. Results will be immediately released for individuals in positive (detected) subpools who have consented and authorized to disclosed health results (HIPAA waiver) for diagnostic testing.

Positive (detected) individual test result
Individual diagnostic results will be released to the individuals or parents/guardians of that individual, as well as the school and NYS Department of Health, provided that individuals have consented to testing and authorization to disclose protected health information regarding COVID-19 testing.

Do I need to provide consent to my school for testing?

Testing at your school requires permission to administer the test and collect and provide the information required by your state for COVID-19 testing. Consent is collected by your school from parents, guardians, teachers, staff, and students over 18 years old.

For Administrators Only

School District Agreement

Communication Templates

Consent Forms

Testing and Results Portal

If your school has appointed you as the test results administrator, you will be given access to Mirimus Consent Collection and Test Results. The platform will give you access to consent rosters, test participation numbers, pool test results, and individual results data. You will receive an email invitation to access when your school is enrolled and onboarded.

Is my school testing with Mirimus SalivaClear?

The following Westchester County Public Schools are testing with Mirimus SalivaClear. If you do not see your school on this list, please contact your school's COVID-19 testing coordinator to see if your school is testing with Mirimus SalivaClear.
Bedford CSD
Bedford Hills Elelementary
Bedford Village Elementary
Mount Kisco Elementary
Pound Ridge Elementary
West Patent Elementary
Fox Lane Middle School
Fox Lane High School

Blind Brook - Rye UFSD
Blind  Brook High School/Blind Brook Middle School
Bruno M. Ponterio Ridge Street School

Byram Hills School District
Byram Hills High School
HCC Middle School
Wampus Elementary  School
Coman Hill  Elementary School

Elmsford UFSD
Carl L. Dixson Primary School
Alice E. Grady Elementary School
Alexander Hamilton Junior/Senior High School

Greenburgh CSD
Early Childhood Program
Lee F. Jackson  Elementary School
Highview  Elementary School
Richard J.  Bailey Elementary School
Woodlands  Middle/High School

Greenburgh North Castle UFSD
Kenneth Clark Academy
Greenburgh Academy
REACH Academy

Hawthorne Cedar Knolls UFSD
Linden Hill High School/Achieve Alternative High School
Cedar Knolls AcademyUFSD

Hendrick Hudson
Buchanan-Verplanck Elementary School
Frank G. Lindsey Elementary School
Furnance Woods Elementary School
Blue Mountain Middle School
Hendrick Hudson High School

Lakeland CSD
Lakeland High School  Copper Beech Middle School
Benjamin Franklin Elementary
George Washington Elementary School
Lincoln-Titus Elementary School
Thomas Jefferson Elementary School
Van Cortlandtville Elementary School
Walter Panas High School
Mamaroneck UFSD
Mamaroneck High School
Hommocks Middle School
Central School
Mamaroneck Avenue School
Chatsworth Avenue School
Murray Avenue School

Mount Pleasant Cottage School UFSD
Mount Pleasant Cottage School
Edenwald School

Ossining UFSD
Park Early Education Center
Brookside Elementary School
Claremont Elementary School
Roosevelt School
AMD Middle School
Ossining High School

Peekskill City Schools
Uriah Hill Woodside Elementary
Oakside Elementary
Hillcrest Elementary Peekskill Middle School
Peekskill High School

Pocantico Hills
Pocantico Hills

Port Chester-Rye UFSD
Port Chester High School
Port Chester Middle School
John F. Kennedy Elementary School
King Street Elementary School
Park Avenue Elementary School
Thomas A. Edison Elementary School

Public Schools of the Tarrytowns
John Paulding Elementar
WL Morse Elementary
Washington Irving Intermediate
Sleepy Hollow Middle/High School
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760 Parkside Avenue, Suite 206
Brooklyn, NY 11226
info@mirimus.com
+1 (833) 647-4687