Big 12 to Conduct Three COVID-19 Tests Per Week

Big 12 schools will test their football programs three times each week for COVID-19 this season, according to a report by CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd.

The league, along with Conference USA, will use the viral PCR “cranial dip” tests (the long swaps you have likely seen or experienced by now) for the first two each week while the third weekly test will be an “antigen” test which can produce results faster and cheaper than other methods. The Southeastern Conference announced plans earlier this month to conduct tests three times each week.

“Three times a week testing is state of the art,” Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby told CBS. “The follow up after positive tests is state of the art. None of that guarantees a situation where you don’t get disrupted, but it gives you the best chance.

“There are a lot of cases that could result in disruptions. You could get so many cases that your local health system can’t handle it. You could find a period of time where you either can’t test or get results [in time]. There could be a public health edict for the area. You could have an outbreak within a team. You can have an outbreak on campus.”