Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 September 2021
347. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his Department has engaged with universities and colleges on the use of Covid-19 antigen testing in third-level institutions; the plans that are in place for the roll-out of antigen testing on college campuses; the timeline for any such roll-out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45912/21]
View answerConsiderable work has been undertaken to date to evaluate the potential use of rapid antigen detection tests (RADTs) in an Irish context and this will continue on an ongoing basis.
Rapid antigen testing pilot schemes began on June 14th in four universities including NUI Galway, Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, and University College Cork. Three additional third level education institutes have signed up for the programme and are currently preparing to begin testing. The HSE has established an online portal to facilitate reporting of antigen test results, with those in receipt of a ‘detected’ result subsequently referred for a confirmatory PCR test.
Given the evidence currently available, the programme of antigen detection testing in third level institutions is currently operating as a pilot programme and subject to fuller evaluation, with particular regard to its effectiveness, feasibility and avoidance of any unintended consequences.
Given uncertainty surrounding the clinical- and cost-effectiveness of RADT-based screening programmes in asymptomatic individuals to limit the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, such as would be the case in these institutions, it would be appropriate to await the results of the pilot to provide more real-world evidence required to inform policy on the widespread use of RADTs in asymptomatic individuals.
