As businesses look towards inviting their staff back to the workplace, it’s still important to take safety precautions even though 53% of Americans have gotten at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Providing testing for your staff is an effective preventive measure that you can take to keep your doors open and COVID-19 out. Let’s talk about how you can get your staff tested for COVID-19 in Cleveland.
Employee testing options
There are two main ways that Cleveland business owners can provide tests for employees.
DIY tests
DIY tests are kits that you can purchase in bulk and distribute to your staff. Each employee is responsible for self-administering the tests and packaging their sample per the instructions on the test kit.
You are responsible for researching and drawing up any paperwork needed in order to be in compliance with local regulations. You are also responsible for collecting all kits and sending the samples to the lab indicated by the test kit. DIY kits are only viable for a limited amount of time, so it’s important to send out the tests promptly.
Most DIY tests are currently RT-PCR tests that require lab processing. This means that results are typically available within 3 business days.
Onsite medical service diagnostics
You can also get your employees tested for COVID-19 with an onsite medical service. This type of service will send a nurse (or team of nurses, depending on the size of your company) to your workplace to administer tests to your staff. They will either process the samples onsite or take them to a lab for processing.
Since onsite tests are performed by licensed clinicians, they have access to a wider array of tests. You can get rapid tests in addition to the standard RT-PCR. Rapid tests can provide same-day results, which enables you to quickly take steps to isolate infected employees and protect your staff.
In addition to faster results, saving you the time and hassle of distributing, tracking, and collecting tests yourself, and reporting results after they have returned, onsite services have an additional advantage. They are fully versed in local rules and regulations and can ensure all tests are performed in compliance with these laws.
Why should you provide testing for your staff?
There are several key advantages of providing tests for your employees, which we outline below.
- Health and safety: First and foremost, COVID-19 tests can break the chain of transmission. Tests enable you to catch an active case of the virus before it has the chance to spread – whether or not the individual has symptoms.
- Liability: Some states have passed measures to protect businesses from COVID-19 lawsuits. These businesses must be able to demonstrate they are in compliance with public health recommendations and are taking steps to protect their staff.
- A streamlined, organized process: Tests are administered to your staff on a single day, saving you the hassle of keeping track of who has and hasn’t been tested. Additionally, a medical testing service can ensure that all tests are performed in compliance with local regulations so that you don’t have to do the research and paperwork yourself.
Ohio community testing centers remain open if you prefer for your staff to be responsible for getting tested on their own time.
What are your test options?
All COVID-19 tests can break the chain of transmission and protect both your staff and customers. You have three options for onsite tests for your staff. Let’s take a look at the key facts of each.
RT-PCR
- The gold standard of COVID-19 tests with extremely high accuracy.
- Detects specific genetic material of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
- Administered as a nasal swab or saliva sample.
- Must be sent to a lab for processing.
- Results typically return within 3 business days.
Rapid PCR
- A highly accurate test that uses similar technology to the RT-PCR diagnostic.
- Detects genetic material of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
- Administered as a nasal swab.
- Can be processed onsite.
- Results are typically available on the same day of the test, often in as little as an hour.
Rapid antigen
- This test has a 1 in 5 chance of returning incorrect results.
- Detects certain proteins located on the surface of the COVID-19 virus.
- Administered as a nasal swab or throat swab.
- Can be processed onsite.
- Results are generally available within 15 minutes of the test.
Regardless of which option you choose, tests at regular intervals are most effective at keeping your workplace COVID-free. Staff should also be tested if they are showing symptoms of COVID-19.
