TESTING
County Positivity Rates
CDC Director Robert R. Redfield outlined the formula for county positivity rates. He stated that the CDC takes the total number of tests and total number of positives to calculate the rate. He then went on to confirm that if a state has newer data than CDC that data may be used by a nursing home as their county positivity rate. If that decision is made, the nursing home MUST document that it is testing on this data source. DOCUMENT is the key word!
New Abbott BinaxNOW
Last week HHS announced they are purchasing 150 million rapid Abbott BinaxNOW antigen tests, in conjunction with the Department of Defense. This Abbott testing card uses nasal swabs and is the size of a credit card. Beginning this week these testing cards will be distributed to nursing homes, first to nursing homes in red/yellow zone counties. Red counties are 2x a week testing mandate. The Abbott testing cards should be used to supplement PCR testing or POC antigen tests to lessen the burden and rotate the type of tests. The plan is for the Abbott BinaxNOW cards to be supplied approximately mid-November to mid-December. When the cards are available in the marketplace in the future, the cost would be $5-6 per test.
Please let debra@leadingagekansas.org know as soon as you receive Abbott BinaxNOW testing supplies.
Late last week, LeadingAge received a handful of reports of BD Analyzers producing COVID-19 false positives with staff and residents. We are working closely with AHCA/NCAL, the Department of Health and Human Services, and BD Veritor leadership to investigate these preliminary reports, determine the extent of the issue, and understand the cause(s).
LeadingAge National Troubleshooting on False Positive Antigen Testing – Your Help Needed
Late last week, LeadingAge received a handful of reports of BD Analyzers producing COVID-19 false positives with staff and residents. LeadingAge and AHCA/NCAL are working together on issues related to false positives with antigen machines. Please complete this short survey by 11PM tomorrow, Tuesday, September 15. This information will be combined with AHCA/NCAL results and shared with HHS and BD to determine the extent of the issue and understand the causes.
BD users who experience multiple false positives ONLY can call Sara Lewis at (207) 522-7563. Please note that this number will likely change in the next few days. OR email BD at Technical_Services@bd.com. BD offers a microsite and training webinars, for review if you are having concerns with accuracy.
Members should continue to use these POC tests, but are encouraged to follow the CDC guidance and algorithm with details about when to conduct confirmation testing of positive antigen tests.
You are also encouraged to conduct confirmation testing with PCR tests in other situations not covered by CDC guidance where asymptomatic residents or staff test positive with the antigen tests given the recent reports of false positives.
If asymptomatic residents test positive with a POC antigen test, they should be placed into transition-based precautions and single room if possible, but not moved to a COVID-19 (+) or cohorted with a known positive resident until confirmation testing with PCR is obtained.
Friday at 3:00-4:30 PM ET (2:00-3:30 PM CT) LeadingAge will host a live webinar with the BD folks regarding tests. You will have an opportunity to ask questions. Another session will be available the following week specifically about batch testing. Register for the free webinar.
Haven’t Received an Antigen Testing Machine? We’re Trying to Get to the Bottom of It
Please let debra@leadingagekansas.org know if you have not received an antigen testing machine yet. We have several conversations going on with state and national partners about 1) why certain providers may have been left off the list to receive a machine or 2) why providers that are on the list to receive a machine have not received it, yet.
LEADINGAGE KANSAS
Testing FAQs On Our COVID Page
We have gathered questions from the membership regarding testing and posted them in the newest section of the COVID information section. It’s simply called “Testing FAQs”. We will post FAQs and add other information in there as it becomes available. If you have questions or suggestions for that page, please let Dana Weaver know.
Don’t Forget to Sign Up for our Friday Webinars
Here is the link to register and we look forward to seeing you all on Friday.
LEADINGAGE NATIONAL UPDATE
- LeadingAge Need to Know for 9-14-2020
- Coronovirus Policy Update 9-9-2020
- View the Latest Info, News, and Tools from LeadingAge
OTHER EDUCATION/RESOURCES
engAGED Social Isolation Virtual Summit | Thursday, September 24 | 1:00-3:30 PM CT
Join engAGED: The National Resource Center for Engaging Older Adults for an interactive discussion and dialogue with Aging Network leaders on social isolation and engagement among older adults.
Attendees will learn about the latest research on social isolation and loneliness, as well as innovative social engagement best practices that respond to current challenges. National leaders and local experts will highlight COVID-19 adaptations and innovations that address social isolation in diverse communities and how technology is helping to foster engagement during COVID-19. The Summit will also offer an opportunity for participants to provide input and share resources.
The engAGED Social Isolation Summit is open to the public and does not require paid registration for the n4a Virtual Conference and Tradeshow. Questions? Contact info@engagingolderadults.org.
#ActivitiesStrong Virtual Fall Gathering Tuesday, September 15, 2020
This event will focus on helping activity and life enrichment professionals understand the state of resident engagement during and after COVID-19, explore best practices and methods and outline the long lasting changes that will occur in how to build person-centered experiences for older adults. Register here.
