TLA Newsletter: January 21, 2022

COVID Rapid Response test kits available; Indigenous-Focused Grad Requirement

View March 7, 2022 newsletter (PDF)

Rapid Response COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Tests

As announced by the BC Provincial Government, COVID-19 test kits have been distributed to all of the province’s schools for distribution to families. Test kits arrived late last week at TLA and are now available for pick up by parents at the school office, for use at home. Each kit contains materials to complete five (5) individual tests, and each family is entitled to one full five-test kit. Please come to the office at your earliest opportunity should you wish a test kit for your family.

An instructional video created by BTNX Inc., the German manufacturer of the testing kits, may be seen via the following link:

https://www.btnx.com/Product?id=2010

It is important to note that Health Canada has issued a warning regarding the danger to health from some of the kit ingredients; the following excerpt is from the Health Canada Recall and Public Safety Alert regarding the tests, issued February 25, 2022:

“Following an increase in reports to poison control centres, Health Canada is advising Canadians about potential risks associated with the misuse or accidental ingestion or spillage of COVID-19 rapid antigen test kit solutions on the skin. Health Canada has determined that the kits are safe and effective when used as intended. However, many test kits include liquid solutions with chemical preservatives, such as sodium azide and Proclin that may be poisonous if swallowed or absorbed through the skin, particularly in children and pets. Small doses of sodium azide can lower blood pressure, and larger doses may cause more serious health effects. Proclin is also found in many kits. It contains chemicals that can cause skin and eye irritation, as well as allergic reactions. Accidental ingestion or skin exposure to very small quantities of liquid solutions would not be expected to cause the serious effects associated with larger doses. However, even small quantities may cause effects in small children and pets.”

The full Health Canada Recall and Public Safety Alert regarding these test kits may be found in the following link:

https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/rapid-antigen-test-kits-and-potential-exposure-hazardous-substances

Should you wish to collect these kits for your family’s use, please keep them in an area inaccessible to your children or pets. As these test kits are only to be used for symptomatic cases, you may wish simply to keep children with obvious cold and flu symptoms at home, and forego the use of the test kits

Spring Break starts this weekend, so please pick the test kits up before then should you wish to have them on hand for the holiday. Test kits may also be picked up after the spring break.