Easier COVID-19 testing process available to children in B.C.

There is a new COVID-19 test available for school-aged children and it’s as simple as gargling.

The saline gargle test was announced Thursday (Sept. 17) by Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry.

“A new made-in-B.C. sample collection program has been launched for all K-12 students across the province and it is one of the first of its kind around the world,” Henry said on Thursday (Sep 17).

The saline gargle test is an alternative to the traditional nasopharyngeal (NP) swab test.

“You’ll be presented with a tube with five millilitres of saline,” explained Interior Health Medical Health Officer Dr. Carol Fenton. “It’s to be swished around the mouth a number of times and then spit back into the tube, and then that’s the test.”

Fenton says the test rolled out across Interior Health on Thursday. Currently, it’s only available to children.

“The focus on school-aged children at this point is because children are most likely to be the ones that struggle with the NP swab,” Fenton said. “The long-term goal is to make this alternative more widely available. For now we’re just focusing on this population.”

Parents of children who have symptoms of COVID-19 should call 8-1-1 or the testing centre directly to book a test.

Because the tests are made in B.C., they are more readily accessible.

“The tubes are manufactured here in B.C., so we’re not relying on international supply for the swabs.” The wait time for test results will remain the same.