FAQs: Rapid, at-home COVID-Tests

Please see the FAQs below regarding the Rapid, at-home COVID Tests.  As a reminder,  families who are interested in obtaining an at-home test kit can pick one up at the curb of the MUG Lobby at Colonie Central High School between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Families who do not have the means to pick-up a test during the allotted time frame can contact the South Colonie District Office at 518-869-3576 to make arrangements.

My child has just tested positive on a rapid, at-home COVID-19 test.  What should I do next?

Please take a picture of the positive test results and a picture of the test box

    • Notify your school nurse of the positive result 
    • Report the positive results of an at-home COVID-19 test to the Albany County Department of Health online.

Your child must isolate for 10 full days

Your child may return to school on day 11 under the following conditions:

    • No fever within 72 hours, without fever reducing medication
    • No runny nose
    • No disruptive cough
    • All other symptoms are improving

My child, who has COVID-19 symptoms just tested negative on a rapid, at-home COVID-19 test. What should I do next?

  • Please take a picture of the negative test result and a picture of the test box
  • Notify your school nurse of the negative result
    • Your school nurse will then talk you through the next steps
    • You will need to keep your child home from school until symptoms resolve

Out of an abundance of caution, I tested my child who had no symptoms and they tested negative on a rapid, at-home COVID-19 test. What should I do next?

No further action is required and your child can attend school.

I noticed the expiration date says Jan 2022 or Feb 2022 – Can I use the test after that date?

The expiration month on the test kit means it is the last day of the month (January 2022 is really January 31,  2022). It remains to be seen if the FDA will now issue any extension to these expiration dates or not. At this time we recommend checking the dates on the tests to ensure that they are used within their “use by” date.