The HSE has today started offering antigen tests to people who are fully vaccinated and asymptomatic close contacts of those with Covid-19.
The tests will be posted out for people to do at home.
Close contacts who are not fully vaccinated and / or symptomatic will be referred for a PCR test.
All close contacts will get a text message from the HSE on the two options. The text message will be followed up by a call from the contact tracers who will go through their vaccination history, symptoms and do the referral as appropriate for either PCR or antigen testing.
Close contacts who fall into the category for antigen testing will receive a box of 5 antigen tests and will be asked to do 3 tests – the first test on the day they receive their test kit, the second test two days later and the third test two days after that.
The HSE is using the Siemens Clinitest Rapid COVID-19 Antigen Test.
A HSE CHO Area 1 spokesperson said: “If antigen tests are positive we are requesting close contacts book a PCR test – as part of that booking process they will be asked to tick that they had a positive antigen result. If a close contact develops symptoms while they are in the process of doing antigen testing they need to self-isolate and book a PCR test. Those whose antigen tests are negative are also asked to report their negative results via the HSE website.”
