New study finds school-aged children in U.S. can self-swab

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- A new study published Friday on pediatric COVID-19 testing in U.S. schools found that with age-appropriate instructions, school-aged children can successfully use a nasal swab to obtain their own COVID-19 test specimen.

Researchers conducted their study in July and August 2021 at sites in the Atlanta area, enrolling 197 children with symptoms of COVID-19. Prior to self-swabbing, they showed the children a short how-to video designed for a young audience and provided a handout with written instructions and pictures.