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Take-home rapid antigen screening kits

Dear BHNCDSB Families

In an effort to promote a safer return to the classroom after the winter break, the Ministry of Education has made it a requirement for the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board to provide take-home rapid antigen screening kits to every child in our board.

Schools will begin distributing test kits on Monday December 13, and throughout next week. They will be sent home with your child, or if your child is not at school, you can come to your child’s school and pick one up.

The rapid antigen screening kits are intended for use by any child, regardless of their vaccination status.

Please note, your child’s participation in this rapid antigen screening is voluntary. Students are not required to participate in order to return to the classroom after the winter break.

When to Use the Rapid Antigen Screening Kit:

  • For students who choose to use rapid antigen screening kits, it is recommended students conduct the rapid antigen tests every 3-4 days over the holiday break, on every Monday and Thursday beginning December 23, until all five tests have been used.
  • Rapid antigen screening kits are only to be used when a child is asymptomatic (i.e. does not have any symptoms of COVID-19 and has not had any exposure to a confirmed case of COVID-19).
  • Anyone with symptoms or who is identified as a close contact of a case should still get PCR testing. Rapid antigen screening tests should not be used as a substitute for PCR tests for people with symptoms or for people who are close contacts of cases.

Take-Home Rapid Antigen Screening Kit:

  • The BTNX Rapid Response™ can be performed using anterior nasal swabbing (per the package insert, as approved by Health Canada) or using deep nasal swabbing (as recommended by Public Health Ontario.
  • Please follow the BTNX Self Screening Instructions.
  • Important note: Parents or guardians may choose to administer this screening on children who may need help (i.e., younger children).

What to do after your test:

  • You will know the outcome of the test within 15 minutes. If test results conducted so far are negative, your child may attend school as usual. Even if your child tests negative, they should continue to adhere to all relevant public health guidance, such as guidance on gathering, distancing, and masking.
  • A positive result on a rapid antigen screening test is considered a preliminary positive. A child that receives a positive result on a rapid antigen screening test should seek a confirmatory PCR test as soon as possible (ideally within 48 hours) at a local testing site or pharmacy that offers testing and isolate themselves until the result of that confirmatory PCR test are known.

With Thanks

Mike McDonald
Director of Education