Rapid antigen self-tests on way to Sask. to speed up detection of COVID-19

The province is announcing that plans are in development for the expansion of public distribution of self-tests for personal use.

An increase in distributing rapid antigen self-tests would help speed up the detection of asymptomatic COVID-19 cases in the province, reducing the strain on provincial laboratory PCR testing to focus more on symptomatic and confirmation testing.

One million self-tests are expected to reach the province from the federal allocation by mid-October. The Saskatchewan government is also considering purchasing additional Health Canada-approved rapid tests for self-testing to supplement this supply. A sample of these kit types has been brought in for validation at the Roy Romanow Provincial Laboratory.

The anticipated self-test kits will be made available to the general public by mid-October at Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency bases, municipal and First Nations’ fire halls and select Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) locations on a schedule to be determined.

Details, including specifics on locations, dates and hours for distribution will be announced and shared online once the supplies have been delivered.

Test to Protect program

Currently, the Test to Protect program has made self-tests available in congregate settings like long-term care, personal care homes, shelters, detox facilities, group homes, schools and correctional facilities. Saskatchewan Health Authority health care workers, dentists, pharmacists and first responders can also currently access self-tests for self-screening.

Businesses and organizations with fewer than 200 employees can receive a supply of tests through the SHA for workplace screening.

The program provides self-tests for asymptomatic screening and surveillance. Tests are expected to be performed once or twice a week, with any presumptive positive results requiring a confirmatory lab PCR test.

A new supply of 475,000 self-tests has been provided to Saskatchewan elementary schools to expand the self-tests at home pilot throughout the province. The program targets students age 11 and under, as they are not yet eligible for vaccination.

As of Oct.4, parents with a child age 11 or younger attending school may contact their school about receiving home, self-testing kits for use by their household. More information is to be sent home with students.

Testing resources

The expansion of self-testing will allow SHA public PCR testing sites to focus on individuals with COVID-19 symptoms, individuals with a positive rapid antigen self-test result, close contacts to positive COVID-19 cases, persons identified in outbreak situations, immunocompromised individuals, staff and students in educational institutions and individuals requiring transfer to long-term care, personal care homes, social services care and acute care facilities.

Being able to preserve laboratory testing for these individuals will help individuals receive their test results more quickly to notify those who need to self-isolate or allow for return to day-to-day responsibilities.

Residents who require proof of a negative COVID-19 test result in lieu of proof of vaccination will be responsible for purchasing a test from a private test provider. A publicly-funded test result, from a provincial lab or provincially supplied self-test, will not be accepted as proof of negative test results.