No antigen tests for COVID available in La Crosse schools at the moment

A rapid type of COVID test will not be available for now in the La Crosse School District. 

Supplies of the antigen test are short, but the PCR test for COVID will still be used at the Hogan building. 

“We found out (Monday) night, like around 5 o’clock, from our testing vendor that the Department of Health Services has halted antigen testing to vendors that are working with schools,” says Aimee Zabrowski, the director of student services for the district.

Zabrowski says results from a PCR test may not be known for 3 to 5 days.  The advantage of an antigen test is that it offers results in 30 minutes or less.    

Zabrowski says some students exposed to COVID in the La Crosse school system may be able to come back to class after a short time without having to show test results.  She says the test requirement depends on where a student came in close contact with a COVID patient.

“For school-based close contacts and community-based close contacts, because they have a lower risk of actually developing infection than a household contact,” Zabrowski says, “as long as they’re not experiencing symptoms, they can come back at Day 6 without showing a test.”    

Students with COVID symptoms will still have to show a negative test before being allowed back in the La Crosse schools.