Q: Can this test be used for patients that are not showing any symptoms?

A: These tests are designed to be used on symptomatic patients, per the manufacturer’s instructions for use. The accuracy decreases significantly when used for screening of asymptomatic individuals. If an organization determines to use them for asymptomatic uses, understand it is an off-label use. However, it is strongly encouraged by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to use these tests in asymptomatic instances, perhaps the most useful being instances of a likely/known exposure and the individual is presenting as asymptomatic.

Q: Can the tests be used for employees and patients?

A: These tests may be used for both patients and staff.

Q: Do we need to confirm the antigen test with a polymerase chain reaction test?

A: A positive result with the antigen assay is quite reliable and does not require a follow-up with a molecular test. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends that a symptomatic patient with a negative result by antigen follow up with a physician for consultation and possible confirmation with a molecular test.

Q: Does it matter who is doing the reporting?

A: It does not. Centralizing reporting with one or two individuals per site, or even across sites, is preferable. The skill set of the reporters should be experienced with Excel-type documents as that translates well for the CSV report file reporting.

Q: Can tests be shipped to one address and distributed to other sites?

A: Yes. The state would like some estimate of how many tests will be used at each site. An email can be sent to mary.menges@health.mo.gov or include the information in the comment box at the end of the application.

Q: What is the approximate expiration or shelf life of the tests?

A: It varies, but most the recent shipments DHSS received have expiration dates of late April to early May 2021.