Cases tied to long-term care facilities in Regina determined invalid due to lab error; outbreaks over at six facilities

Effective immediately, many of the long-term care homes in Regina believed to have outbreaks will return to regular visitation.

A testing issue at a Regina laboratory has resulted in a large number of invalid tests that led to supposedly positive cases within long-term care facilities in the city, triggering restrictions on visitors at the homes to only allow family presence for residents receiving end-of-life care.

The Ministry of Health and Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) are reporting the issue occurred at the Roy Romanow Provincial Laboratory, impacting tests that were identified as positive in Regina care homes. These tests have since been identified as invalid after retesting.

The error was reportedly due to an instrument error and resulted in up to 255 invalid tests between Aug. 18 and 22, 2021. The samples have been retested, according to a provincial release, and 206 were found to be inconsistent with the first result.

To confirm the false-positives are indeed negative results, the lab will validate the results of each test for confirmation. A “full reconcilliation of the data” is underway and is expected to be completed tomorrow.

The SHA said family notification for long-term care residents identified as false-positive that have since tested negative has begun. Residents living in impacted facilities will also be notified.

Residents at long-term care homes in Regina — a total of 54 — who previously tested positive have been retested and confirmed negative for COVID-19.

Further investigation is underway to determine if some of the current long-term care home outbreaks in Regina can be declared over. Three long-term care homes with confirmed or suspected outbreaks will remain at Level 3. These include Extendicare Elmview, Regina Pioneer Village Complex Care Unit and Wascana Rehab Centre Mental Health Unit.

Previously suspected or confirmed outbreaks have been lifted at Regina Lutheran Home, Santa Maria, Extendicare Parkside, Extendicare Sunset, Regina Pioneer Village – Transitional Care Unit, and Wascana Rehabilitation Centre Unit 2-6.

Fifty-four residents at long-term care homes in Regina previously testing positive have been re-tested and confirmed to be negative for COVID-19.  Further investigation is underway to determine if some of the current long-term care outbreaks can be declared over and family presence be resumed at these facilities.

The RRPL receives test samples from around the province.  Affected individuals will be contacted to confirm their test results