COVID-19 PCR TESTING PROGRAM UPDATES

Alberta Health has announced that beginning July 18, several eligibility and operational changes to the PCR testing program will come into effect. Albertans needing PCR tests will require a laboratory requisition from a medical professional and some testing locations will change.

For those who meet the eligibility criteria (see below), the AHS online assessment tool will continue to be used to book appointments at AHS sites. In some communities, testing will take place at AHS clinics designated as swabbing sites, integrated with other services. Where testing is needed to inform treatment decisions, clinics can choose to perform testing on site or refer to an AHS location.

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PROCESS FOR MOLECULAR TESTING

Process for Molecular Testing

Assess: Determine if patient is eligible for test.
Submit requisition: If testing is indicated before appointment is complete, the primary care clinic team must fax a laboratory requisition to the central Health Link intake office (403-943-6700) to ensure it is received prior to the patient's testing appointment at an AHS site.
Booking appointment: Patients should be assisted or advised to book their appointment through the AHS online booking tool.

Eligible Albertans for outpatient treatment without a family physician or who are unable to book an appointment can call Health Link at 1-844-343-0971.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Through Clinician Referral:

Albertans requiring PCR testing will need a referral from a clinician. This includes:

People with symptoms who may be eligible for outpatient treatment (Paxlovid or Remdesivir).
Pregnant people with symptoms.
People who have been referred as part of their medical assessment.

Clinicians will determine the best testing option for their patients (i.e. rapid testing, in-clinic swabbing with the sample sent to the lab for PCR testing or a referral to an AHS site for testing). Clinician referred patients will enter their physician’s name into the assessment tool and their physician will submit a lab requisition on their behalf.

Through Self-Referral:

This includes eligible Albertans who live or work in high-risk settings and are:

People with symptoms who live or work in isolated and remote First Nation, Inuit, and Métis communities.
Health care and continuing care workers and workers in specific high-transmission risk settings.

Those living or working in isolated and remote First Nation, Inuit, and Métis communities will continue to be able to access testing locally. Those who live or stay in high-transmission risk settings will still be able to access testing on site at their location.

Rapid Tests

Rapid tests continue to be a readily available and convenient tool for self-diagnosis. Free rapid test kits are widely available through hundreds of pharmacies across the province. Family physicians can also order tests at no cost through AHS.

All questions can be emailed to [email protected].

Alberta College of Family Physicians | www.acfp.ca

COVID-19 PCR TESTING PROGRAM UPDATES

QUICK LINKS

PROCESS FOR MOLECULAR TESTING

Process for Molecular Testing

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Rapid Tests