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Good morning,
We’re excited to share there are two new no-cost COVID-19 testing options available to child care providers from the State of Minnesota. First, the State of Minnesota has secured 100,000 BD Veritor At-Home rapid antigen COVID-19 tests for child care providers to share with staff and families. Second, the state is making rapid molecular Cue tests available for child care providers to administer to staff and students on-site.
BD Veritor At-Home COVID-19 Tests
As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the state, the State of Minnesota is providing additional rapid, antigen at-home COVID-19 tests for child care providers. As you all know, testing is an important mitigation strategy that can keep our facilities open and our communities safe.
The BD Veritor At-Home test is a nasal swab test available for anyone aged 2 and older. The test must be administered by families outside of the child care setting. The BD Veritor At-Home test is particularly convenient if a staff member, child or family member is experiencing symptoms and needs to quickly determine whether or not they have COVID-19. However, even with a negative test result, someone who is experiencing symptoms should take a PCR COVID-19 test and should not return to school until symptoms have improved and they have been fever-free for 24 hours.
Families need to download the Scanwell Health app on their iPhone, Samsung Galaxy or Google Pixel smartphone. Once they create an account and are signed-in the app will provide step-by-step video instructions in English. Families should ensure they have 20 minutes to take the test. To support providers in communicating with families about this test, the state has created a template email to send to families and a simple overview that should be printed and provided to families when they receive the test.
For the initial order, child care programs can order one test per staff working onsite and per student/child over the age of 2 in care. These tests can then be shared with families. A plan to re-order as needed by demand and within funding availability. Tests can be ordered starting today, November 30.
Learn more about the BD Veritor At-Home test, including how to order tests.
Rapid, Molecular Cue COVID-19 Tests
The state is expanding access to Cue COVID-19 tests to include child care providers. Cue tests are individual, diagnostic, rapid molecular COVID-19 test that uses a nasal swab. Results are available within 20 minutes of processing. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has received these tests through a grant by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. These tests will be made available to child care programs at no cost.
In order to receive Cue tests from MDH, child care providers will need a CLIA Certificate of Waiver. Providers can apply for their own CLIA Certificate of Waiver using the CMS-116 form. Once the form is completed, it should be emailed to health.CLIA@state.mn.us. There is a $180 fee to maintain a CLIA waiver due every two years.
To reduce the barriers for programs administering Cue tests, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is making a temporary statewide CLIA Certificate of Waiver available for COVID-19 testing only. You can learn more about this option at MDH Statewide Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) Certificate of Waiver for COVID-19 Testing.
You can find more information about the Cue test on MDH’s website, including CLIA requirements and options, at Information for Organizations Requesting Cue Rapid Molecular Tests.
Thank you, again, for your work keep our communities healthy and safe. If you have any questions, email COVIDtesting.MDE@state.mn.us.
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