BinaxNOW Rapid Antigen Tests for COVID-19 for EMS Agencies

As of 10/9/2020, EMS Agencies in Georgia have the opportunity to request an allocation of BinaxNOW Rapid Antigen Tests for COVID-19. These tests are provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and are allocated by the Georgia Department of Public Health.

Please refer to this CDC Interim Guidance for Antigen Testing for SARS-CoV-2.

To qualify for allocation of these test kits, EMS Agencies must:

Have a current CLIA Certificate of Waiver (Click HERE to get information on CLIA for EMS)
Have support of the EMS Agency Medical Director
Agree to follow all guidance from DPH on the use of these devices
Agree to report ALL results within 24 hours to the Georgia Department of Public Health
Request an Allocation through the OEMS License Mangement System (Click HERE for instructions on how to request an allocation)

Any agency requesting allocations of these test kits should prepare by attending these 3 types of trainings, and should review ALL of the information on this page: https://www.globalpointofcare.abbott/en/support/product-installation-training/navica-brand/navica-binaxnow-ag-training.html

BinaxNOW Training for those doing the testing (Abbott)

https://www.whitehatcom.com/alere_binax

Abbott has indicated that this website provides the same information as the training that was being offered this week, including some step-by-step videos:

https://www.globalpointofcare.abbott/en/support/product-installation-training/navica-brand/navica-binaxnow-ag-training.html
Data Reporting (results) Training (DPH)
The Department of Public Health conducted a training on the data reporting requirements related to the use of these tests, and the new DPH COVID 19 Point of Care Test Reporting Module (available HERE).
- Download the PowerPoint for the training HERE.
- Recorded video below.

This is the recorded training for the Data Reporting Requirements:

Key points regarding the BinaxNOW test kits and CLIA Waivers:

If these BinaxNOW tests are allocated to your agency, they are to be used to test symptomatic EMS Agency staff and medics, NOT the general public and NOT patients.
- These test kits are meant to test symptomatic individuals within the first 7 days of being symptomatic - they are not meant for routine screening of asymptomatic persons.
Any agency that receives these kits will be required to report ALL results of the tests (positive, negative, inconclusive) to DPH.
You must have a CURRENT CLIA Certificate of Waiver in order to have tests allocated to your agency. Start the process now - see information here:
- https://dph.georgia.gov/EMS/ems-licensure-verification-agency-personnel-instructor/ems-agency-licensure/
In fact, ALL EMS Agencies need to have a CLIA Certificate - keep in mind that this is not a new requirement, since ALL EMS Agencies have the ability to test blood glucose.