Provincial Antigen Testing Program

Note

This document is intended for use by anyone receiving free rapid antigen tests from the government of Ontario through the Provincial Antigen Testing Program. This is a living document and includes guidance supported by currently available evidence. As evidence evolves, this document will be updated accordingly.

Individual ministries may have sector specific policies or directives related to rapid antigen testing, which must be considered in addition to the program information below.

1. Program overview

What is the Provincial Antigen Testing Program?

The Provincial Antigen Testing Program (the “program”) provides select health care providers (such as primary care providers and pharmacists) access to rapid antigen tests for use on patients with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 infection who would be eligible for COVID-19 treatment if they tested positive, as well as to long-term care homes and some congregate living settings for use to support outbreak prevention and management, consistent with relevant provincial guidance or at the discretion of public health unit staff. . Through the program, rapid antigen tests are distributed for use to those eligible in accordance with the COVID‑19 testing and treatment website.

What is a rapid antigen test?

A rapid antigen test is a point-of-care test that looks for proteins from the COVID-19 virus and provides results within several minutes.

A rapid antigen test can be performed anywhere by a person on themselves, a health professional or trained individual.

Information on who may access a rapid antigen test can be found in the COVID‑19 testing and treatment website.

What are the key considerations for interpreting test results?

For information on what to do following a positive or negative test result, visit the COVID-19 testing and treatment website.

Rapid antigen tests are less sensitive than PCR (molecular) tests that are accessed through a participating pharmacy or primary care provider. As such, rapid antigen tests may yield some false negative test results (i.e., testing negative even though infected), particularly early in COVID-19 infection, as well as some false positive test results.

If you repeat testing 24–48 hours after your first negative test and test negative again, you can be more confident that you do not have a COVID-19 infection. You should still follow current guidance on how long to stay home and self-isolate and on additional precautions to take when you are sick.

What does participation in the Program mean?

If eligible to participate in this program, the government will provide eligible health care providers (such as primary care providers and pharmacists) with free rapid antigen tests, pending available inventory, for use on patients with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 infection who would be eligible for COVID-19 treatment if they tested positive. Long-term care homes and some congregate living settings can also participate in this program to order rapid antigen tests for use to support outbreak prevention and management, consistent with relevant provincial guidance or at the discretion of public health unit staff.

All participants are required to agree and adhere to the program terms and conditions in order to continue receiving a supply of rapid antigen tests and to avoid having their participation in the program terminated by the province. Participation in the Provincial Antigen Testing Program is voluntary.

The free rapid antigen tests distributed through this program are to be used only for Ontario-based individuals and settings and must be used within the duration of the program (tests cannot be saved for future use). Tests cannot be distributed or sold to any third party (for example a client company).

Organizations seeking to test patrons, customers and/or the general public (for example customers seeking personal care services, general public attending events at large venues) must privately procure tests.

What are the financial considerations?

The provincial government provides eligible health care providers and high-risk settings with the appropriate number of rapid antigen tests to meet sector-specific testing guidelines, for free, depending on available inventory. Those participating in the program will assume all additional program implementation costs (for example human resource expenses, supplies, and the implementation of physical safety measures).

How are tests received once accepted into the Program?

Those approved will be provided with information on how to order rapid antigen tests once they have completed the intake process through ontario.ca/testingonsite.

Those approved will need to be able to safely store any rapid antigen tests received.

2. How should a rapid antigen test be used in this program?

1. Rapid antigen tests must be used in accordance with information contained on the COVID‑19 testing and treatment website.
2. Rapid antigen tests must be used in accordance with Provincial Antigen Testing Program terms and conditions.
3. Rapid antigen tests do not replace infection prevention and control measures such as symptom screening, appropriate distancing, use of PPE, and hand-hygiene activities. Rapid antigen testing is not required under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1990. Measures outlined in the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1990 are essential to prevent the transmission of COVID-19, whereas rapid antigen testing can only identify individuals after transmission has occurred.
4. Individuals who receive a positive result using a rapid antigen test should review ‘What your test result means’ and follow the Management of Cases and Contacts of COVID-19 in Ontario.
5. Rapid antigen tests should not be used to screen employees or individuals at the workplace who should otherwise stay home based on current public health guidance.

How to Dispose of Used Rapid Antigen Tests

Waste generated from rapid antigen tests is considered a hazardous waste under the Environmental Protection Act. The Ontario government made amendments to the regulation governing hazardous waste management to exempt waste from these tests from collecting, storage and transportation requirements as long as the waste is disposed in Ontario. This waste must still be disposed of at a waste facility approved to handle biomedical waste. In addition, those collecting, storing or transporting these tests should follow Ontario’s guidance on the Safe Handling and Management of Rapid Antigen COVID-19 Testing Waste.

For waste generated from at-home rapid antigen testing the regulatory requirements for managing the hazardous waste under the Environmental Protection Act do not apply. Instead, persons using at-home rapid antigen tests should consult their local municipality’s by-laws on the proper disposal of this waste to ensure it can be disposed of with the household trash.

Unused or expired tests cannot be returned to any central warehouses due to quality control and infection prevention control considerations. Those who withdraw from the program, should still make all reasonable efforts to use rapid antigen tests on hand.

3. Program reporting requirements

Those participating are not required to report any data to the provincial government.

What are the reporting requirements in the case of a positive rapid antigen test result?

Positive rapid antigen test results do not need to be reported to a public health unit except if they are associated with a suspected or confirmed outbreak in a highest risk setting and are not confirmed with a PCR test.

Further information on reporting requirements when a positive result is detected on a rapid antigen test can be found in Management of Cases and Contacts of COVID-19 in Ontario.