On October 19th, UW implemented the next stage of COVID-19 testing which can be read about here. The UW testing site at Crane Hall uses the Laboratory Developed Test (LDT), which is then tested by UW’s Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory (WSVL).
“Samples are pooled manually. Four samples are combined into one pool which is then tested. We have tested this and shown that we do not lose sensitivity when pooling four samples,” said William Laegreid, PhD, Director of the WSVL.
According to Laegreid, results from LDT tests are not reported to the Wyoming Department of Health. Instead, confirmatory test results that are positive are reported.
Laegreid said, “Surveillance testing results do not directly influence WY Department of Health statistics. However, because surveillance testing identifies a relatively large number of potentially infected individuals that might otherwise have gone undetected, it does indirectly affect the overall positive case count.”
Alix Hegy, a COVID-19 testing site employee for UW, said, “I think these tests are really fast and allow the school to save some money. I think the system works but it adds an extended wait time to figuring out results which can add a lot of stress.”
According to Laegreid, LDTs have saved UW money by roughly reducing the cost of testing each sample by about 75%.
“This is important because it allows UW to test larger numbers of student, staff and faculty, and to test more frequently… The testing program implemented by UW this fall is one of the most extensive in the country,” said Laegreid.
“While none of us think the current situation is ideal, I hope students in particular can appreciate the enormous effort undertaken by the State, UW Administration and numerous staff, faculty and students to provide a positive university experience in the face of the current pandemic.”
