Everything you need to know about COVID-19 self-testing in companies (2)

Organisational preparations prior to introducing self-testing in the company

On the website of the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic, you can get information on holders of the exemption for antigen tests performed by laypersons and selected producers.

You can purchase certified self-administered antigen tests at the EUC Pharmacy online. We will deliver them directly to your place of business or to another address that you specify. It is always necessary that instructions in the Czech language be enclosed with the tests. Familiarise all employees who will use the tests with the information and instructions for using the tests contained in the package insert.

TIP: How do antigen tests work?

Retain the invoice for the purchased tests – it my subsequently be the subject of an audit conducted by health insurance companies for the purpose of provision of a contribution from the prevention fund.

Can employees be tested using rapid tests at home?

It is possible to test employees in their home environment. However, you must always act in accordance with the procedure set forth below, including recording test results. The purpose of testing is to prevent infection of other employees. Therefore, it is not unnecessary to test employees using home office or persons who will not interact with the staff.

Inform the employees that, in the event of any symptoms of COVID-19, it is necessary to immediately proceed according to the instructions for symptomatic persons issued by the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic.

When should self-testing not be administered?

Testing should not be carried out in the case of persons who have suffered from a laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19 and whose period of isolation has expired and who are not exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19, and not more than 90 days have elapsed since the first positive RT-PCR test or POC antigen test.

Such facts will be shown in the medical report. Furthermore, testing should not be carried out in the case of persons who submit a negative result of a RT-PCR test or a professionally administered POC antigen test that is not older than 48 hours and who do not have symptoms of COVID-19.

Self-testing in companies – procedure

At the workplace, designate a separate suitable space for testing – an unused room or a room where employees are not concentrated. Equip the authorised employees who will cooperate in the administering of tests with personal protective equipment (FFP2 respirator, safety glasses, protective gloves).

In the event that a rapid test is administered in the home environment, the employee shall self-administer the test before going to work.

Information on the administration and results of employee testing, including each employee’s insurance number (in most cases, birth-registration number without a slash) shall be recorded by an authorised employee in the overview of administered tests. In the case when an employee self-administers a test in the home environment, such employee shall inform his/her employer of the test result.

Subsequent procedure based on the test result

In the event of a negative result

The employee shall continue in his/her ordinary work while adhering to the current protective measures.

In the event of a positive result

The employee is obligated:

• to inform his/her employer of such fact.
• to not enter the workplace; if testing is performed at the workplace, to leave the workplace immediately.
• to immediately contact, by telephone or online, his/her registering general practitioner or, if the employee does not have a registering general practitioner, the locally relevant public-health protection body (regional public health authorityor the Public Health Authority of the City of Prague).
• Until the next step is determined by a physician or public health authority, the employee must minimise the risk of infecting other people, ideally by isolating himself/herself.
• such physician or relevant public-health protection body will decide on confirmation testing by means of an RT-PCR test and issue a request form in ISIN.
• the employee is obligated to submit to a confirmation test.

How to dispose of used rapid tests

Used tests shall be disposed of according to the methodological information of the Department of Waste Management of the Ministry of the Environment on the classification of waste from antigen tests intended for self-testing of persons:

1. Place all used test kits in a black plastic bag with thickness of at least 0.2 mm. In the case of thinner bags, use two bags – one placed inside the other.
2. Upon filling the bag or no later than 24 hours after the initial use of the bag, seal the bag and treat its outer surface with a disinfectant agent.
3. Dispose of the bag in an ordinary container for mixed community waste. Never place bags containing used tests next to waste containers!

The person handling such waste must always thoroughly wash his/her hands with soap and warm water or use a disinfectant on his/her hands after such handling.

Insurers’ contribution for self-testing of employees

The health insurer’s contribution is paid out for a maximum of four tests per employee per month. Tests can voluntarily be administered more frequently at the employer’s expense.

Report the number of administered tests to the tested employees’ health insurers once a month using the appropriate forms. The insurers will reimburse the contribution in the amount of up to CZK 240 per tested employee for the given month. The initial billing will be issued after the end of March.

Suitable self-tests are available at our EUC Pharmacies

At the link below, you can find all available COVID-19 tests in the EUC Pharmacies e-shop:

COVID-19 tests