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How Covid Production Testing Keeps Film Sets Safe

Mon, 03 May 2021 12:38:41 GMT

Not to be dramatic, but COVID-19 is a complete scene-stealer. Instead of letting it ruin your production, you can take steps to get it under wraps. Temperature checking and mask mandates help, but Covid Production Testing really brings the action.

Keep reading below to learn more about how to keep your project going during a pandemic!

How COVID-19 Can Shut Down a Shoot

We have all seen this scene play out. A production assistant gets COVID-19 and comes to set anyway. He gets too close to the talent, sneezes over crafty, and brings the DP his coffee. Within a week your entire production is at a standstill.

It only takes one person with COVID-19 to cause chaos on your production schedule. The more behind you get the harder it will be to catch back up. For many productions, this has spelled the end of films, series, and even careers.

That's why Covid testing is so important for any project! It guarantees that the show can go on.

Covid Production Testing

Covid production testing is the consistent testing of all production members for the duration of the project. Rapid antigen testing provides accurate COVID results within hours instead of days or weeks.

This is used as both a deterrence against the spread of COVID and an assurance that your set will be safe to work on.

Rapid Anigen Testing is also significantly more effective in isolating out active COVID cases than temp checking and self-reporting alone. When used in conjunction with each other, you can create an active security net against COVID. Remember that people may lie, but test results don't.

The Benefits

It is hard to overstate the benefits of COVID testing your production team. It may seem like an extravagance at first glance. The financial benefits of COVID testing far outway the initial upfront costs.

Lower Insurance Premiums

Production insurance is a pain to manage. Add in the risk of COVID and suddenly what should be a one million dollar plan balloons to a five hundred million dollar plan just to cover talent liability. Luckily, with on-site production testing, you can avoid the bulk of the upcharge.

Union Support

Every major film union and guild has stepped out in support of taking active measures against COVID on set . If you plan on working with union talent, you need to make sure you are union compliant. Besides, taking care of your crew is a good look.

Star Draw

From Tom Cruise to Mellissa McCarthy, A-list celebs have been adamant that COVID compliance be adhered to on any site they work on. If your project is not actively doing all it can to protect talent, that talent will not work.

Make sure you have regular film set testing and film production testing so you don't lose any important members of the team!

Set Morale

In non-pandemic times, keeping up crew morale can be a challenge. Even the best crafty selection cannot revive a burnt-out crew, and COVID has been pushing crews into burnout at an alarming rate.

Showing your team that you care enough about their safety to institute testing goes a long way to establishing trust and boosting morale across the board.

Resolution

COVID production testing is a valuable addition to your set. It helps to protect your cast, crew, and budget from the devastation that COVID tends to create. Rapid Antigen Testing is safe and effective, and easily accessible through partners such as Primedical One.

And to learn more about how you can keep production going, and why Covid safety is so important, just reach out to us here !

Covid Testing For Businesses: How Do Antibody Tests Work?

Mon, 03 May 2021 12:34:24 GMT

Did you know that over thirty-one million people in the United States now have COVID-19? The pandemic has fundamentally changed lives in ways that no one could ever imagine. However, the end may be in sight. As vaccines become more widely available, more businesses are beginning to reopen.

However, it’s important not to jump the gun when it comes to the virus. If you plan on reopening your business, then COVID testing is vital for the safety of both your employees and clients.

If you want to get your employees back into your building, then you’re likely wondering what’s the most efficient way to test them. One method, antibody tests, are both efficient and quick. In this article, we’ll be exploring what an antibody test is and what it reveals. Let’s get started!

What Are Antibodies?

Antibodies are a unique type of protein that our bodies produce to fight against infections. When a virus, like COVID-19, enters our system, our immune systems produce antibodies to help fight it. However, these antibodies don’t disappear when the virus dies down.

Indeed, they stay in our blood in case the virus resurfaces and we need to fight it again. When COVID-19 enters our system in a few days or weeks, the body produces detectable antibodies. Typically, these antibodies remain detectable even if someone displays none of the typical signs of the infection.

What Is an Antibody Test?

An antibody test is used to find out if someone has been previously exposed to COVID-19. This is done by looking for evidence of COVID antibodies in the blood.

If these types of antibodies are found, then it indicated that the individual has COVID-19 at some point in the past. If no antibodies are found, then it indicates that the person doesn’t have COVID-19. Or, it can mean that they’ve had it at some point in the past, but the antibodies have worn off.

How Does an Antibody Test Work?

A professional perform an antibody test by pricking your finger. Then a few drops of your blood are placed in a bottle. From there, rapid testing can be done to find out whether or not your immune system developed antibodies in response to the virus.

Are These Types of Tests Effective For COVID Testing?

Currently, the FDA doesn’t recommend antibody testing as an effective method for COVID-19 testing. There are two main reasons for this. The first reason is that these types of tests can sometimes give a false negative reading. This occurs when someone has been infected but hasn’t yet developed the antibodies against the disease.

The second reason is that the antibody test can also give false-positive readings. This occurs when antibodies from a different coronavirus strain are detected.

As such, antibody testing is only effective at determining prior exposure to COVID-19. It can also be used to find out immunity status. If you want to determine the current infection status, then your best bet is either the molecular (RT-PCR) tests or antigen rapid COVID testing.

What Does a Positive Result Mean?

A positive result indicates that you could have been exposed to COVID-19 at some point in the past. However, as we mentioned, there’s a chance that this result could be wrong (this is referred to as a false positive). This can occur when the antibodies are produced by a different type of coronavirus other than SARS-CoV-2, like the common cold.

It can also occur when done in communities with a low overall infection rate. As such, if you test positive for an antibody test, then you should follow up with COVID PCR testing or rapid antigen testing. This will confirm whether or not you have a COVID-19 infection.

What Does a Negative Result Mean?

A negative result indicated that no antibodies to the virus were found in your system. However, a negative antibody test doesn’t confirm with certainty that you aren’t infected with COVID-19.

A false-negative test result can occur if you’re tested before your body has time to produce the antibodies. In some cases, the antibodies can also disappear naturally over time. So, while a negative antibody test result can be a good sign, it doesn’t indicate with certainty that you aren’t infected with COVID-19.

What Type of COVID Tests Should Be Used For a Large Business?

Antibody tests provide a good baseline for determining whether or not your employees have been exposed to COVID-19. However, as we mentioned they’re not 100% accurate when determining the status of a current infection. So, if you need to test hundreds or even thousands of employees, then what’s the best test to do so?

For this purpose, we recommend that employers use rapid antigen testing. There are two main reasons for this. One, it can be performed by professionals using on-site testing. So, it’s not inconvenient for you or your employees. Second, you get results from the test within ten minutes.

As such, there’s no need to wait anxiously for test results. If you want to learn more about COVID testing methods for large businesses, then make sure to check out our guide here .

Need Rapid COVID Testing For Your Business? Contact Prime Medical

We hope this article helped you learn more about the different types of COVID testing available. If you’re a business owner, then you likely want to get your company back on track as soon as possible. Unfortunately, COVID compliance can make this difficult for many workplaces. That’s why you should find a company like Prime Medical to take care of any testing needs.

We send a physician to your workplace and handle all the tests on-site. Our antibody tests are a great way to determine past exposure to COVID, as well as immunity responses. Or, if you want more comprehensive and accurate tests, then you can go with our rapid antigen or RT-PCR testing. If you have any questions about the different tests, then make sure to contact us today .

COVID-19 Testing for Large Businesses: A Guide

Wed, 10 Mar 2021 10:11:54 GMT

Businesses are bruising. From January to March of 2020 alone, 39 percent of small businesses laid-off workers. In the months that followed, tens of thousands of businesses have shut down entirely.

It makes sense that many people want to reopen. But they need to be cautious. They need to make sure they can keep their employees and customers safe.

One tool to determine that is COVID-19 testing. Same-day COVID testing for businesses is affordable and effective.

Yet even medical practitioners don't know what it entails. Here is a quick guide, including steps for reopening.

The Basics of Tests

There are two kinds of tests that can diagnose COVID-19. The first kind is antibody tests .

These tests use blood to find signs of the immune response to COVID. If someone has proteins to fight the virus, they may have had the virus previously. They may be able to fight off future infections.

But antibody tests are not completely reliable. Someone can have a natural immune response without having a previous infection.

Though recurrence of COVID-19 is uncommon, it can happen. Immunity to one variant may not mean immunity for another variant. Antibody tests are still a good baseline for reopening strategies, but they are not ideal.

The second kind of test is viral tests . They use nasal or saliva specimens to find out if a person has a current case of COVID. These tests can look for two things.

They look for nucleic acids, the genetic material of COVID-19 itself. These tests are incredibly reliable, though they take time to process.

Antigen tests look for viral proteins, which a virus needs to survive. They are not as sensitive as nucleic acid tests, so they may require additional examinations. But they can provide quick results.

A negative test does not mean someone does not have COVID. It could mean that the test was done too soon to register an infection.

A person can have COVID but have no symptoms. Anyone in close contact with a positive case should receive a test as soon as possible.

Same-Day COVID Testing

Same-day COVID tests are viral tests. Most look for antigens, though a few examine nucleic acids.

You cannot buy tests and then run them yourself. You and your employees must order tests through healthcare providers. Your employees can receive documents showing their results to prove they took one.

Try to have your employees receive multiple kinds of tests. Antigen tests on their own are not completely reliable. Make sure they receive a nucleic acid or antibody test as well.

If time is not a major issue, opt for nucleic acid testing. Though it may take longer, it will provide better results you can use for reopening strategies.

Tell your employees to follow social distancing and mask-wearing when they get their tests. If they are waiting in an office, they are likely to catch an infection.

On-Site Testing Protocols

Some companies offer on-site testing. This involves a viral test, usually taking nose and mouth swabs. Each company has its own protocols, but there are a few general ones you can consider.

Limit the number of employees who will receive tests at any one time. Schedule them in small batches with specific start and end times. Keep everyone else at home until their appointment.

Most companies require people who take tests to sign a consent form . This provides the company with contact information so they can inform the person of their results. Make sure everyone has completed a form before arriving at the test site.

Have your employees wait in their cars until they are called for a test. If they must wait in a line, enforce social distancing with physical barriers every six feet.

Everyone must wear a mask unless they are being swapped. They should return to their car immediately after being tested. They can receive a phone call at home with the results.

Provide the testing company with tables and facilities to handle specimens. Make sure they can dispose of personal protective equipment and trash without infecting others.

Once COVID-19 Testing Is Done

You should only open your workplace once you've completed testing. Every single employee should receive a test, and nearly all should be negative.

If you have a pool of positive cases, you are putting your employees at risk. Continue operating online. Wait until two weeks after symptoms go away before returning to the office.

Make sure your office is ready for occupancy. Check the ventilation systems so they distribute clean air and remove potential viruses.

There should be room amongst workstations with barriers to prevent the spread of respiratory droplets. If you cannot enforce social distancing, you should not reopen your workspace.

It is unclear whether vaccinations offer permanent immunity to the virus. They may reduce symptoms, but still allow infections to spread. Do not reopen your office just because many people have COVID shots.

Conduct testing on a regular basis, at least once per month. Ask employees who have been in close contact with positive cases to stay home.

If someone shows up to work with COVID-19 symptoms, isolate them immediately. Send them home and ask them to quarantine for at least two weeks.

New variants of COVID-19 are on the move. They may lead to a workplace shutdown, and they may require new testing.

Follow the news and adjust your strategies accordingly. Do not assume that one test can cover all variants.

Find the Best Tests

If you want to reopen your business, you need COVID-19 testing. But you need the facts to make tests work.

You can choose antibody or viral tests, but you should choose nucleic acid tests. Most same-day COVID testing looks for antigens, which may not be reliable.

Follow social distancing and mask-wearing for on-site tests. When you decide to reopen, make sure the ventilation systems work. Enforce social distancing and adapt your reopening based on the news.

Get the best tests to keep yourself safe. Prime Medical offers premium tests at affordable prices. Contact us today.