The federal government is sending Abbott BinaxNOW rapid antigen test kits to states for distribution. There is limited availability of these tests to Missouri Long Term Care Facilities (RCF, ALF, ICF, and SNF) and private Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF-IID) with a CLIA certificate.
Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) will distribute available tests to LTCFs for use. Because there are a limited number of tests available, these tests are best suited for use with patients or staff who are symptomatic and who may have had a credible exposure to COVID-19.
Demand will be high and so we ask homes to only request what they will need for a 45 day timeframe- that is not covered by other testing capacities. Our understanding is that federal shipments will begin again next week in counties with high positivity rates. This effort is to supplement existing testing capacity- not to replace it.
APPLICATIONS FOR TEST KITS MUST BE RECEIVED BY JANUARY 22, 2021 at this link: https://arcg.is/1XvLeP.