Antigen Testing

On September 28, 2020, the Kentucky Department of Public Health released guidance to providers regarding interpretation of results from point-of-care antigen tests:

• A positive result in an individual with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or with history of specific exposure to COVID-19 provides presumptive laboratory evidence and the individual would be classified as a probable COVID-19 case.

• A positive result in an individual with no symptoms and no history of specific exposure to COVID-19 is recommended to be immediately followed by a PCR test to verify the positive result.

• A negative result in an individual with no symptoms and no history of exposure to COVID-19 would be taken at face value and would not require additional follow-up.

A negative result in an individual with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 would be only presumptively negative. This individual would continue as a person under investigation pending verification of that negative antigen test with a negative PCR test.  A negative result in an individual with history of specific exposure to COVID-19 would not eliminate the need for quarantine.