Rapid Testing – What You Need to Know
What is Rapid Testing?
Rapid point-of-care testing is authorized by Health Canada as a tool to screen for COVID-19. These tests deliver a much faster result than the regular (PCR) testing—usually within 15-minutes—and can be used for screening purposes, particularly to help identify asymptomatic, potentially contagious individuals. Positive tests need to be followed up with a PCR test.
As part of BC’s restart plan, it is recommended that staff in long-term care and assisted living settings who are not fully immunized against COVID-19 regularly undergo rapid testing.
You can access rapid tests for free through the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA). Further information can be found on the BCCDC website.
To start the process, contact the Rapid POC Testing Team at rapidPOCteam@phsa.ca to express your interest. They will then send you an application form asking for details of how many staff you wish to screen and how regularly, as well as some details about your organization. Then, if your application is approved, you will be able to order tests for collection as you need them. If you encounter any challenges with this process, you can contact our Pandemic Response Lead, Jenni Cannon (jcannon@safecarebc.ca) If you prefer, you can also buy rapid tests from alternative suppliers.
If you source rapid tests through the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA), you will be able to enroll one or two members of staff onto a virtual course. You will also receive materials guiding you on the use of the tests, and reporting requirements to the province.
Watch the PHSA’s rapid testing video series – including how to prepare and set up tests, and how to administer the nasal swabs – here.
Organizations in BC are also eligible to access support from the Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) Rapid Screening Consortium, which offers a free-of-charge program across Canada to share best practices and tools for implementing a rapid antigen screening process. New cohorts are registered on this program every week – for more information and to register, visit the CDL website here.
Additionally, some of our members have been using rapid testing to screen for COVID-19 for a number of months. You can read testimonials here, or listen to a rapid testing webinar from a panel of experts, including long-term care operators, here .
SafeCare BC’s Rapid Testing Program
As we reopen our in-person training offer, SafeCare BC will be using rapid testing to add an extra layer of protection for those hosting, delivering and participating in our workshops. We will be asking workshop participants whether they are happy to disclose their COVID-19 vaccination status in advance.
If you a) don’t want to share your vaccination status or b) are not fully vaccinated (over 2 weeks since your second dose) you will be asked to take a rapid test on arrival to the workshop.
SafeCare BC provides the suppliers to assist organizations to locate rapid testing devices. This is not an exhaustive list, as there may be other suppliers of rapid tests.
SafeCare BC does not in any way vet or endorse the suppliers or the products they offer.
Anyone contemplating the purchase of rapid testing devices should make their own enquiries and assessments with respect to the ability and suitability of the products they purport to provide. Companies or organizations listed are not approved by nor in partnership with SafeCare BC.
Access Pacific Enterprises Ltd (MiraGuard)
Type of Business: Import/Supplier/Distributor
Certification/Status: Health Canada Authorization 323096
Order Information: Minimum Order Quantity: Three kits (20 tests per kit) – 60 tests total
Contact: Jessica Nguyen (Account Executive – Corporate Sales)
E-mail: jessica@accesspacific.ca
Phone: 604-729-6234
Type of Business: Supplier
Certification/Status: Health Canada Authorization 330172
Order information: Minimum Order Quantity: one pallet (9000 tests).
Contact: Leann Hackman-Carty
E-mail: info@concreteglobal.com
Phone: 403-214-0224
Type of Business: Importer/Supplier/Distributor
CovClear COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test
Certification/Status:
- MDEL Number – 15150
- Health Canada Authorization 330172
Order information:
- Order by website or phone.
- There is no minimum order quantity, wholesale orders are welcome.
- Price includes delivery in metro Vancouver, shipping is extra outside of metro Vancouver or other provinces.
Contact information:
- The main contact will be Elvis or Micky
- phone: +1 (855) 900-4050
- Email: info@holo-tech.ca
Location: Vancouver
Type of Business: Supplier
Product:
- Boson Rapid SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Test Card (Nasopharyngeal swab)
Certification/Status: MDEL Number 13010
Order Information:
- Online or contact information (below)
- Quick Shipping, BC Based, Competitive Pricing.
Contact information:
- info@medura.ca
- 604-308-3302
Rapid Test and Trace Canada Inc
Location: Quebec
Type of Business: Supplier/Distributor/Advisor
Certification/Status: MDEL 12316 (Gertex Hosiery Inc. operating at Proprietary Innovation Labs)
Order information
- Minimum Order Quantity – 250 tests
- Delivery in 2-3 weeks from date of order
Contact:
Roudel Medical & Surgical Supplies
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Type of Business: Supplier
Certification/Status: MDEL Number 4299
Additional information: Links to more information about the BD Veritor Plus System:
- Kit Contents
- Simplify COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) testing
- Power of simplicity
- BD Veritor Quick Reference Guide
Order information
- Minimum Order Quantity: One Veritor Analyzer and five (5) boxes of Validation Cartridges.
- Bulk order discounts available.
Contact
- Wade Halabi
- roudelmedical2021@gmail.com
- (416) 879-8660
Spectrum Medical Diagnostics Inc.
Location: Mississauga, Ontario
Type of Business: Supplier
- Sars-Cov-2 Rapid COVID Antigen Test (Nasopharyngeal swab)
- BD Veritor Plus (requires use of optical reader for test interpretation) (Nasal Wab)
- Rapid Response COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test Device COV-19C25
Certification/Status: MDEL# 3171
Business Information:
- Company History
- About the CEO & Founder
- Additional Information: COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test Device COV-S23
Contact:
- info@spectrummdx.com
- 1-866-287-2425
Location: Vancouver
Type of Business: Supplier, distributor, wholesaler
Certification/Status: MDEL Number 14889
Health Canada Approved (August 5th, 2021)
Order Information:
- Visit Tradical for more information.
- Minimum order quantity 25 boxes (500 units).
Contact information:
- Aurora Chen
- aurora.chen@tradicalimports.ca
