Implementation of a COVID-19 Screening Testing Program in a Rural, Tribal Nation: Experience of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, January-February 2021.
Public Health Rep
; 137(2): 220-225, 2022.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-35023417
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected tribal populations, including the San Carlos Apache Tribe. Universal screening testing in a community using rapid antigen tests could allow for near-real-time identification of COVID-19 cases and result in reduced SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Published experiences of such testing strategies in tribal communities are lacking. Accordingly, tribal partners, with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, implemented a serial testing program using the Abbott BinaxNOW rapid antigen test in 2 tribal casinos and 1 detention center on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation for a 4-week pilot period from January to February 2021. Staff members at each setting, and incarcerated adults at the detention center, were tested every 3 or 4 days with BinaxNOW. During the 4-week period, 3834 tests were performed among 716 participants at the sites. Lessons learned from implementing this program included demonstrating (1) the plausibility of screening testing programs in casino and prison settings, (2) the utility of training non-laboratory personnel in rapid testing protocols that allow task shifting and reduce the workload on public health employees and laboratory staff, (3) the importance of building and strengthening partnerships with representatives from the community and public and private sectors, and (4) the need to implement systems that ensure confidentiality of test results and promote compliance among participants. Our experience and the lessons learned demonstrate that a serial rapid antigen testing strategy may be useful in work settings during the COVID-19 pandemic as schools and businesses are open for service.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Bases de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Indio Americano o Nativo de Alaska
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Programas de Detección Diagnóstica
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Pueblos Indígenas
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Prueba Serológica para COVID-19
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COVID-19
Tipo de estudio:
Diagnostic_studies
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Evaluation_studies
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Prognostic_studies
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Screening_studies
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Sysrev_observational_studies
Límite:
Humans
País/Región como asunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Public Health Rep
Año:
2022
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos