Many schools across the U.S. are providing testing to students, teachers and administrators including a number of schools that are beginning to use Abbott’s BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card.

We know parents, teachers and schools may have questions about testing. And we're here to help. Let's dig in.

What does it test for? Specific COVID-19 antigens (the proteins that make up the virus), which are the part of a virus that prompts an immune system response and signal an active infection.

Where is testing performed? The test is authorized for use at facilities operating under a CLIA certificate, which is a certification program administered by the federal government under the Clinical Laboratories Improvements Act (CLIA). Many school nurse’s offices maintain a CLIA certificate or may be partnering with a third party laboratory, which enables them to administer the BinaxNOW test.

How does it work? Using BinaxNOW is fast and easy. A healthcare professional — such as a school nurse or a retail pharmacy physician — uses a simple, less invasive nasal swab and in 15 minutes, the BinaxNOW card gives a result. One line: Negative. Two lines: Positive.

Then what? If your child has a negative test, they will likely be provided a paper or digital pass by their school they can use for a period of time set by school administrators. Those with positive results will be referred to their healthcare provider.

Want to learn more? More of your questions are answered here.