COVID-19 Preventative Program

Pooling—sometimes referred to as pool testing or pooled testing—means combining the same type of specimen from several people and conducting one NAAT laboratory test, in ASFM’s case a PCR test, on the combined pool of specimens to detect SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.  Pooled tests that return positive results will require each specimen in the pool to be retested individually to determine which individual(s) are positive.

All members of the pool that returned a positive test result will be notified on Monday evening of the positive pool test result. The members of the positive pool will be asked to return to campus on Tuesday morning between 7:00 and 7:30 am to provide a second sample to be used to conduct an individual PCR test.  

Students in positive pools are not allowed to participate in on-campus learning on Tuesday.  Once a negative test result is received, students may immediately return to on-campus learning.  Individual students that test positive will be asked to quarantine for 14 days.  This quarantine may be shortened with a negative individual PCR test after 7 days.

If a student is required to test and does not test on Monday they may participate in our follow-up individual testing program which takes place on Tuesday, from 7:00 - 7:30 am on campus. As individual testing is not included in the pool testing service offered by the school, payment of 980 MXN would be required for the individual test. The outcome of the individual test would be returned that evening. If negative, said student may return to on-campus learning the next day.
 
Parents may also contact Biosafety for an individual test at their installations on Humberto Lobo-Auditorio San Pedro from 8:00 am to 11:00 am. Results are returned the same evening.

Students who miss Monday Pool Testing and decide not to participate in these individual testing programs can access learning via Google Classroom and Seesaw. Check ins with teachers will be arranged over the course of the week.

They will be reintegrated in the pooling system the following Monday.

*please contact Biosafety beforehand to confirm their availability

ASFM does not accept lab results from diagnostic laboratories in substitution of the ASFM preventative testing program.  Diagnostic labs require a higher viral load to return a positive test.  ASFM's preventative testing uses a predictive model and returns a positive result with a lower viral load that is aligned with the pre-symptomatic transmission of COVID.

Each Monday evening all members of the ASFM community will be notified of their pool test results via email.  Individual test reports will not be provided for negative test pools.  

For pools that return a positive test, individual follow-up PCR tests will be conducted and individual reports will be available if requested.

These individual reports  are to be requested during Individual Testing directly with a member of Biosafety. Please note that in order to provide individual test results, you will need to authorize the release of personal data to the laboratory to facilitate the official test result.

In collaboration and observation of other international schools, as well as universities in the United States, testing has been effectively used to contain the overall viral load within a community allowing them to continue operations even when viral transmission rates in the broader community are high.  

The ASFM community united to open our school.  Now we must take every proactive action to keep our doors open.  A regular testing program allows you to identify and isolate people that are COVID positive, yet asymptomatic.  By removing asymptomatic individuals from the population we are able to lower our transmission rates and keep the school open.

PCR testing is the gold standard for COVID-19 testing and is far more accurate in detecting positive, asymptomatic COVID cases.  Our aim is to keep COVID outside the doors of our campus and PCR tests are the most reliable and accurate way to achieve this objective.  Our partnership with BioSafety has allowed us to provide the most reliable COVID test at a similar cost to antigen testing.  

ASFM purposefully selected a provider that could offer saliva testing that only requires a mouth swab.  We felt strongly that the nasal swab experience is traumatic for young learners and only considered providers that could offer saliva-based testing.

The frequency of testing will be determined by the viral load within the ASFM community  based on the data gathered through the testing program. ASFM will test the entire school weekly to gather baseline transmission rates.  When the COVID transmission rate is low (below 0.5%), ASFM will move to a randomized selection of only part of the community population.   If the transmission rate increases ASFM will increase the percentage of the population that is tested each week.  .  Students will be notified of their testing status on the Friday previous to Monday Testing.

The data collected through the testing program will also allow us to differentiate the frequency of testing by grade level.  If an increase in transmission rate is observed in a particular age group, we can adjust frequency by age group.  Our strategy is to let the data inform the decision regarding frequency to ensure the safest learning environment possible.

ASFM uses a totally randomized process for selection.  Each week the entire school population eligible for testing is randomly assigned a 13 digit number using Microsoft Excel.  The list is then sorted by testing station and random number (smallest to largest).  An alternating selection formula is then applied to divide the population.  This double randomization ensures that we get a fully random sample.  

Due to the randomization of the selection, it is possible for someone to be selected on consecutive weeks, or for someone to not be selected for consecutive weeks.  As we are using a sampling, not screening strategy, this is acceptable within the scope of the preventative testing program. 

All PCR Cost Information can be found in our web page under the Tuition Section. Please refer to this section of the Web Page for the complete information and updates: PCR Testing Program Cost Breakdown.

ASFM does not have a quarantine requirement and we defer to the local authorities in this regard.  We feel that with our testing program, a negative test to return to school is sufficient to re-engage with the on-campus community.

The science on this varies based on different studies.  PCR tests have been able to successfully detect COVID within 12 hours of contracting the virus, however, this is not guaranteed.  Typically within 36 hours of infection, a PCR test is able to accurately detect the virus.  So if the person is infected on Friday, then we will almost certainly identify it.  If it is Saturday, then it is likely to be identified, and on Sunday, it is possible, but not likely.  

Our testing program is a screening strategy to lower community transmission, but the implementation of additional strong health and safety protocols is still required.  We will continue with universal masking, physical distancing, and a long list of other on-campus mitigation measures to ensure student safety.

No. However, parents and siblings not enrolled in ASFM may test individually with Biosafety with our preferential rate of 980 MXN. This rate is valid during on campus testing, Monday from 7:30 am to 10:00 am at the MSHS Priority Tent, or Tuesday from 7:00 - 7:30 am during Individual retesting. The follow up of these tests is provided directly with Biosafety.

If a student tests positive in any given COVID test, they will be required to carry out a 14 day quarantine at home. Please make sure to communicate with attendance and your campus' doctor so we can track your case. Parents will receive follow up emails from the Doctors and their teachers to support them during their quarantine. Students will be asked to engage in Online Learning during their quarantine and will be under the “Excused Protocol” in Powerschool.

Quarantine period may be shortened to 7 days by providing a negative PCR test with Biosafety.

A close contact situation is evaluated and determined by the Doctors. If a student is considered a Close Contact with someone who tested positive for COVID, they will be required to carry out a 14 day quarantine. Quarantine period may be shortened to 7 days by providing a negative PCR test with Biosafety. Please make sure to communicate with attendance and your campus' doctor so we can track your case. Students will be asked to engage in Online Learning during their quarantine and will be under the “Excused Protocol” in Powerschool.

Quarantine period may be shortened to 7 days by providing a negative PCR test with Biosafety.

Students presenting any kind of symptoms must remain at home. This includes flu symptoms, allergy symptoms, etc.

Please notify the campus doctor, the sectional office and their teachers. Student’s absence will be excused and you will be given further instructions.

Wear a mask at all times, even if you are at home. All viruses, not only covid, are airborne and by using a mask you decrease the chances of spreading it to your family.

In order to return to campus, students who have presented symptoms will be required to present a negative Individual PCR test with Biosafety or will be allowed back on campus when all their symptoms have subsided for 24 hours with no medications.

Students who are positive for Covid-19 or are a close contact of someone who has Covid-19 can access learning via Google Classroom or Seesaw. Teachers will check in periodically during the absence.

The students are asked to do the best they can to stay current and connected to their studies, however ASFM will support students in the completion  of assignments they were not able to complete during their quarantine.  

In the event that a student has symptoms and is ill.  We expect the child to focus on healing and getting healthy.  Any missed school work can be completed once they are well.  

Please contact the division administrator.

Biosafety https://biosafety.mx/
81 1821 2842
Humberto Lobo at the San Pedro Auditorium parking lot. Beside the passports office.
Samples are taken Monday to Saturday from 8:00 to 11:00

*days are subject to Holidays