PCR tests will no longer be required for persons who test positive by an approved rapid antigen test  

4

COVID-19 Testing Protocol Update 27 July 2022

Effective June 27 2022, RT-PCR tests will no longer be required for confirmation of COVID-19 disease in persons who test positive by an approved rapid antigen test.  

This new update on the COVID-19 Testing Protocol released from the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment is based on Antigua and Barbuda’s current COVID-19 epidemiological situation.

In addition to recommendations from the Pan America Health Organization’s (PAHO) Epidemiological Alert on the Rational Use of COVID-19 Diagnostic tests and the Caribbean Epidemiology Center’s (CARPHA) Interim Guidance for the Selection of Diagnostic Tests for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Infection.

There still remains however, situations in which RT-PCR should be used:

  1. When there is negative rapid antigen test result in a person with a high suspicion of COVID-19 disease. For example:
    1. Persons who are suspected or probable COVID-19 cases of COVID-19
    2. Close contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases.
  • Inconclusive rapid antigen tests

All cases that require hospitalization due to respiratory symptoms.

All persons requiring hospital admissions.

The Ministry of Health reminds all health care providers that COVID-19 has been declared a dangerous infectious disease.

Therefore, it is a legal requirement that all cases are reported to the Ministry of Health Wellness and the Environment’s Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit at [email protected] .

Failure to do so can result in fines in accordance with the Public Health Act (6).

 

 

 

 

APPENDIX 1

Approved SARS CoV-2 Rapid Antigen Diagnostic Tests

 

 

Line # Product Name Manufacturer
1. Panbio COVID-19 Ag Rapid Test Device Abbott Rapid Diagnostics Jena GmbH
2. Standard Q COVID-19 Ag Test SD Biosensor, Inc
3. BD Veritor System for Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Becton, Dickson and Company (BD)
4. BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card Abbott Diagnostic Scarborough, Inc.

 

 

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4 COMMENTS

  1. What outdated shit is this
    Anybody studying testing
    People come on island without vaccine and dont quarantine
    Dont know why the forms asking about if you have runny nose and know a person with covid are being filled, the airlines should stop wasting ink

  2. Does anyone still believe that all cases are reported? The dashboard is a joke. Nearly everyone I know has had COVID.

  3. Soon the entire ABLP and their corrupt health ministry will pay for their medical malfeasance. Tick Tick Tick

Comments are closed.