AT HOME RAPID ANTIGEN SCREENING

Training. Innovation. Leadership.

Date: September 4, 2021

Beginning this fall, rapid antigen screening will be mandatory for certain individuals who come to campus. The following groups are required to participate in rapid screening:

Those who are not fully vaccinated (i.e., partially vaccinated but not yet 14 days past their second or final shot)
Those with a valid vaccination exemption that has been approved by your primary health care provider.

ATIC community members who are fully vaccinated but would still like to participate in the rapid antigen screening program are encouraged to do so as well.

The Council of Ontario Medical Officers of Health have advised that rapid screening cannot be used as an alternative to vaccination.

Appliance Technical Institute of Canada is implementing an at-home rapid antigen screening program in support of our community. For fall 2021, a self-administered at home screening program will be launched across the Mississauga campus in partnership with the Province of Ontario.

Rapid antigen screening is an examination tool to help detect the presence of the COVID-19 virus. Rapid screening is a convenient and effective way to detect the presence of COVID-19 in people who do not have any symptoms of the virus.

This screening does not replace the lab-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) diagnostic testing administered through public health. A person that receives a positive result from a rapid screening test should not come to campus, must contact support@atinstitute.ca, and must complete a PCR test.

Learn how to how to self-administer by reviewing the step-by-step breakdown and how-to video below.

Overview of ATIC’s rapid screening initiative

Who must participate?

You must participate in the College’s rapid screening program if you are not fully vaccinated (i.e., partially vaccinated but not yet 14 days past your second or final shot) or have a primary health care provider vaccination exemption.

Once you are fully vaccinated, you no longer need to complete regular rapid tests.

Please note that the requirement to participate in rapid screening may change in accordance with public health guidance.

Who may voluntarily participate?

ATIC members who are fully vaccinated but would still like to participate in the rapid antigen screening program are encouraged to participate.

What type of rapid antigen screen is being provided?

Screening kits to self-administer a front of nose swab will be used. These kits are currently provided by the Ontario Ministry of Health. BD Veritor is the type being supplied at this time.

Where does screening take place?

Screening should take place at home, prior to coming to campus. A monthly supply of screening kits will be provided and made available for quick pick-up on all campuses.

When should screening take place?

Screenings are required to be completed as close as possible prior to visiting campus. For example, if you typically visit campus every day or a few days between Monday and Friday, screen at a minimum of twice per week / 72 hours, e.g., on Monday and Thursday.

How long do results take?

The self-screening process takes less than five minutes to administer and 15 minutes to obtain results.

How will screening results be reported?

All screening results must be self-reported by emailing the results to support@atinstitute.ca. You will be asked to indicate if the screen was positive or negative and to upload a photographic image of the completed test.

How will my results submitted to support@atinstitute.ca be used?

Student or employee personal information will not be disclosed or shared for any reason, except for Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) purposes in the event of a presumed positive case. A designated occupational health staff member will follow-up with the individual to ensure public health guidelines are being followed.

What is the cost to individuals participating in rapid screening?

There is currently no direct cost for those participating in the rapid screening initiative. The rapid screening kits are currently provided by the provincial Ministry of Health.

How should rapid screening kits be stored?

BD Veritor tests need to be kept between 2 C and 30 C in accordance with the Provincial Antigen Screening Program.

When do the rapid screening kits expire?

The rapid screening kits being provided have extended expiry dates by six months to dates listed on the labels of the kit items.

How to participate in the rapid antigen screening process

Pick-up your home screening kit at ATIC Mississauga campus starting Sept. 7

Mississauga campus

Foyer

Monday to Thursday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

To pick up your kits, please have ready:

Your Government ID
Full name
Preferred phone number
Email address

You will be registered and receive a one-month supply of screens. Once you have picked up your kit, visit the following link to get started.

Learn how to self-administer

Individuals will screen at home before planning and proceeding to visit campus. Students in residence need to screen prior to leaving residence.
Individuals will follow the screening process as shown in the rapid screening how-to video and the provided step-by-step breakdown below.

Report your results once complete

Once complete, the screening result — including a picture of the completed screen — must be emailed to support@atinstitute.ca before proceeding to visit campus in the case of a negative result.

Interpret your results

For a positive screening result: individual must contact support@atinstitute.ca for further guidance.
For a negative screening result: individual may proceed to campus once support@atinstitute.ca health screening and rapid antigen screening with a negative result are complete.
If you are unsure of the result: please perform another screen. If still unsure of the result after the second attempt, please contact the support@atinstitute.ca.

Example of a negative rapid screening result with one red line (left) and positive rapid screening result with two red lines (right). Please note that the date should appear where the negative and positive red writing is displayed.

All results are kept confidential. The College will continue to monitor the effectiveness of these programs, as well as scientific evidence and best practices and will adapt this program as warranted.

Step-by-step breakdown of how to self-administer

Follow the screening process as shown in the rapid screening how-to video and the provided step-by-step breakdown shown below or download the infographic.