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The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has released interim guidance on rapid antigen testing for COVID-19. Below is an explanation and summary of this guidance focusing on the elements that impact long-term care providers.
CDC outlines three situations in which antigen testing is particularly useful:
1. Who will receive the testing platforms and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-authorized antigen diagnostic tests?
Nursing homes will receive either a Quidel Sofia 2 Instrument or Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) Veritor™ Plus System over the coming months along with the associated FDA-authorized antigen diagnostic tests. To be eligible, nursing homes must have a current CLIA Certificate of Waiver AND meet certain epidemiological criteria. The list of nursing homes is posted on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) COVID NHSN data page and will be updated as new shipments go out. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will distribute the testing platforms and FDA-authorized antigen diagnostic tests to all nursing homes with a CLIA Certificate of Waiver over the next few months.
To access the Antigen Testing Recommended Protocol, please click here.