On January 7, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) updated the SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Testing in Long Term Care Facilities – Considerations for Use in Nursing Homes and other Long-Term Care Facilities webpage and associated documentation. There is a flowchart available as well. The update is as follows:
- Revised guidance on when to perform confirmatory tests. In general, asymptomatic people who test antigen positive should have a confirmatory test performed. Symptomatic people who test antigen negative should have a confirmatory test performed.
- Confirmatory test should be performed with nucleic acid amplifications tests (NAAT) such as reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
- Expanded the intended audience to include all long-term care facilities, including nursing homes.
- Added links to Point of Care Testing and Testing and Management Considerations for Nursing Home Residents with Acute Respiratory Illness Symptoms when SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza Viruses are Co-circulating
View the CDC website for full details here.
