Reporting Antigen Test Results

Posted on November 4, 2020 by Kari Everson

Antigen tests are a rapid test used to determine whether or not an individual has a current infection. Multiple antigen testing methods are available in long-term care settings including the BD Veritor antigen test machine, the Sophia Quidel antigen test machine, and the Abbot BinaxNOW card tests.

 When a rapid test is completed in a laboratory, the lab will report these results. When a long-term care organization, such as an assisted-living or nursing home completes the tests, the organization is acting as the lab and is required to have a CLIA certificate of waiver and to report all antigen test results. The Minnesota Department of Health has an automated procedure for processing test results and therefore ask that providers use their Excel reporting template. A few things about reporting antigen test results:

• You can report a “presumptive” result. There is a specific code for presumptive results and this code should be used if you have submitted or will submit a confirmatory RT-PCR test.
• Data should be submitted for both positive and negative test results.
• Submit reporting data within 24 hours of test result by using the MN COVID-19 Provider portal
• Spreadsheets for reporting along with instructions are found HERE.

For detailed information, you can reference instructions for Reporting Long-Term Care COVID-19 Point-of Care Antigen Testing Results.