Công văn 11011/BYT-KCB

In response to requests of Provincial Departments of Health for guidelines on use of antigen-detecting rapid diagnostic test (Ag-RDT) for confirming people infected with SARS-CoV-2 and determining patients recovered from Covid-19 and eligible for discharge from hospitals, the Ministry of Health hereby gives some guidelines hereunder:

1. Now complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic are taking place throughout the country. New COVID-19 cases have been rising. In order to facilitate the safe and flexible adaption to the new context of pandemic as well as actual conditions and resources of each province/city, Provincial Departments of Health, hospitals affiliated to the Ministry of Health and health agencies affiliated to regulatory Ministries are requested to, based on levels of infection and coping and adaptive capacity, and pursuant to Provisional guidelines for management of people infected with COVID-19 at home enclosed with the Minister of Health’s Decision No. 4038/QD-BYT dated August 21, 2021 and Guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of people infected with COVID-19 enclosed with the Decision No. 4689/QD-BYT dated October 06, 2021, determine the following cases:

a) Suspected cases (as defined in Section 2.1 of the Ministry of Health’s Decision No. 4689/QD-BYT dated October 06, 2021) or any persons who have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 with Real-time RT-PCR test.

b) Persons meeting suspected case criteria (as defined in Section 2.1 of the Ministry of Health’s Decision No. 4689/QD-BYT dated October 06, 2021) and having positive SARS-CoV-2 antigen-detecting rapid diagnostic test (Ag-RDT) (the rapid test kits must be licensed by the Ministry of Health and the test must be done by a health worker or a person suspected of COVID-19 infection under either direct or indirect supervision of the health officer).

c) Asymptomatic persons meeting epidemiological criteria or having close contact with a suspected or confirmed case within 14 days and having positive SARS-CoV-2 Ag-RDT twice in a row (the 2^nd test is done within 8 hours from time of obtaining the 1^st test result; the rapid test kits must be licensed by the Ministry of Health and the test is done by a health worker or a person suspected of COVID-19 infection under either direct or indirect supervision of the health worker). If only a positive SARS-CoV-2 Ag-RDT result is given, the Real-time RT-PCR is required for confirmation.

2. Regarding the use of Ag-RDT for determining patients recovered from Covid-19 and eligible for discharge from hospitals:

a) A person who has asymptomatic or mild COVID-19 infections and is eligible for home isolation and treatment may end home isolation and treatment when:

- He/she has completed 10-day home isolation and treatment.

- He/she has a negative Ag-RDT which is performed by a health officer or self-performed under either direct or indirect supervision of a health officer (the rapid test kit must be licensed by the Ministry of Health).

- The medical station in charge of managing the patient shall assume responsibility to certify recovery from COVID-19 to the patient.

b) Regarding COVID-19 patients receiving treatment at COVID-19 treatment facilities:

*COVID-19 patients without comorbidities

- The patient has no clinical symptoms at least 3 days before discharge

- The patient has tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 with Real-time RT-PCR test or has CT value ≥ 30 or has a negative SARS-CoV-2 Ag-RDT result given before discharge (the rapid test kit must be licensed by the Ministry of Health).

- After discharge, the patient is required to isolate himself/herself at home and self-monitor his/her health for further 7 days. The patient’s body temperature should be checked twice daily. If the temperature is higher than 38°C in two consecutive measures or there are any abnormal clinical symptoms, the patient should notify the health facility for immediate examination and actions.

- The patient must comply with 5K Message

*COVID-19 patients with comorbidities

- The patient has no clinical symptoms for COVID-19 at least 3 days before discharge

- The patient has tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 with Real-time RT-PCR test or has CT value ≥ 30 or has a negative SARS-CoV-2 Ag-RDT result given before discharge (the rapid test kit must be licensed by the Ministry of Health).

- The patient is transferred to receive treatment of comorbidity (if any) and is screened and monitored as an inpatient at a separate room of the relevant ward. The patient’s body temperature should be checked twice daily.

- The patient must comply with 5K Message

Relevant agencies and units are requested to comply with all guidelines herein and report implementation results to the Ministry of Health for consideration./.