Links From CDC and HHS on Point of Care Testing in Nursing Homes 

Links From CDC and HHS on Point of Care Testing in Nursing Homes 

Follow up from the LeadingAge national call on Tuesday, here are the links from CDC and HHS surrounding the POC testing.  We have several questions out to Dr. Fotinos and DOH regarding the information about nursing homes having to report all antigen test results (not just positives) according to the HHS Guidance for Reporting Lab Data. This includes reporting on 18 different data elements within 24 hours of testing. This reporting is separate and different from any other reporting you are already doing and does not replace/is not replaced by reporting to NHSN or reporting to state/local health departments related to COVID-19. We want to know if there is there a system set up in Washington State to receive this information?

CDC also stated that there is not enough data to support using antigen tests on asymptomatic individuals and that antigen tests should be used on symptomatic residents and staff only. This seems different from HHS’s statement that this testing allocation was to meet state mandates and CMS/CDC recommendations for initial, baseline testing. We want to know if there has been any guidance yet from WA State or CMS regarding this antigen testing. If it can’t be used on asymptomatic staff, what is the ongoing plan for testing staff in nursing homes?

We will continue to keep you updated as we learn more from DOH, RCS and CMS.

 

Questions?

Contact:

Laura Hofmann, MSN, RN – Director of Clinical and Nursing Facility Regulatory Services
c: 425-231-4804

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July 29, 2020