Richardson ISD is now offering free rapid COVID-19 tests to symptomatic students and staff members.
The district announced Nov. 3 it would receive thousands of rapid antigen tests from the Texas Education Agency. The tests have a 97.1% true positive rate and 98.5% true negative rate, Payne said at the Nov. 3 board meeting. In other words, a negative result does not ensure absence of the virus, she added.
Even if a person tests negative, they will still be asked to quarantine in case they later test positive.
“Because of the accuracy rate [of the test] and how this antigen test works, it's really seeking those positive symptoms in an individual,” Payne said.
