Hamilton public board says take-home COVID-19 tests will be optional

Hamilton public schools will be handing out thousands of take-home COVID-19 tests next week in an effort to promote a safer return to the classroom after the winter break.

In a letter to parents on Wednesday, the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) said participation in the rapid antigen screening is voluntary and students are not required to take a test in order to return to the classroom after the winter break.

Students will each receive one package of five BTNX Rapid Response tests during the week of Dec. 13 to 17.

Parents and caregivers will be notified via School Messenger on the day the test kits go home to ensure families receive them.

The board says students should conduct the rapid antigen tests every three to four days over the holiday break until all five tests have been used.

Rapid antigen tests should only be done when a child is asymptomatic and has not had any exposure to a confirmed case of COVID-19.

Children who are showing symptoms or who have been identified as a close contact should still get a PCR test.

HWDSB says vaccination remains the most effective protection against the virus and its variants. The school board says ensuring that children and youth are vaccinated will provide them with a strong level of protection and help to keep schools open and as safe as possible.

The board has offered the following instructions for how to administer the test.

Using the 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, given higher sensitivity compared to anterior nasal swabbing). Both types of specimen collection can be performed using the NP swab provided with the kit.

Parents or guardians may choose to administer this screening on children who may need help.

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.