DHHS → MeCDC → Disease Surveillance → Epidemiology → Airborne and Direct Contact Diseases → Coronavirus → Healthcare Providers
COVID-19: Healthcare Providers
On this page:
- Standing Order
- Current Testing Guidelines for Maine State Lab
- Information for Providers Receiving Abbott BinaxNOW Antigen Tests
- Popular Resources
- Health Alert Network (HAN) Advisories
Standing Order
On June 8, 2020, Maine CDC issued a Standing Order (“Order”) that authorizes any health care provider or other trained personnel at a health care facility or medically-supervised COVID-19 collection site (collectively, “collection site”) in the state to collect and submit for laboratory analysis specimens to be tested using a SARS-CoV-2 PCR molecular test for any individual in accordance with the conditions of the Order. This Order was revised on June 18, 2020 to clarify language regarding specimen collection protocols. This Order was also revised September 22, 2020 to allow any individual in Maine who is at least 12 months of age or older to receive testing. The Order was revised on December 8, 2020 to change the quarantine requirement from 14 days to 10 days. Read the Standing Order (PDF).
The DHHS Standing Order is not meant to replace existing patient-provider relationships or provider-laboratory relationships.
The Order also authorizes the collection site that submitted the specimen for SARS-CoV-2 molecular testing under this Order to receive the results of the test directly from the testing laboratory. This Order further authorizes the laboratory that performed the molecular test for SARS-CoV-2 to provide test results directly to the individual who was tested, with the individual’s consent.
For more information, read the Standing Order Frequently Asked Questions (PDF).
Current Testing Guidelines for Maine's Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory (HETL)
In line with the Standing Order for COVID-19 Testing issued on June 18, 2020, Maine's Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory (HETL) will perform the SARS-CoV-2 molecular test on specimens collected from individuals who meet the eligibility criteria listed in the Standing Order. Read the Standing Order (PDF).
Maine CDC recommends following the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) Guidelines on the Diagnosis of COVID-19. Read the IDSA Guidelines.
Accessing Testing At HETL. If facility has not previously submitted specimens to HETL, please set up an account with HETL PRIOR to submitting any samples to HETL for COVID testing. To set up an account, please fax the following information to HETL at 207-287-1727:
- Facility name
- Contact name
- Facility address
- Phone number, and
- Confidential fax number.
HETL will contact your facility with confirmation of receipt of the information.
Once an account is established, specimens can be forwarded to HETL.
Testing forms and information on acceptable swabs and transport media are found on HETL's website. Download the information and forms.
Information for Providers Receiving Abbott BinaxNOW Antigen Tests
The Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card is a rapid antigen test for deteting active infections of COVID-19. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in partnership with the Department of Defense (DOD), is providing rapid point-of-care tests to communities across the United States. For questions about distribution, please visit the HHS site for rapid test distribution.
As noted in the FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), the BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card is authorized for use at the Point of Care in patient care settings operation under a CLIA Certification Waiver, Certificate of Compliance, or Certificate of Accreditation.
Abbott has a training toolkit that can be used for self-guided training and is also holding webinars to reinforce key learnings related to BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card and the NAVICA App. The following resources can be utilized by providers that receive the BinaxNOW tests:
- Introduction to CLIA-Waived Testing (PDF)
- BinaxNOW Guidance (PDF)
- BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card (PDF)
- BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card CLSI (Word)
- BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card Nasal Swab Tech Bulletin (PDF)
- BinaxNOW COVID-19 Healthcare Provider Sheet (PDF)
- BinaxNOW COVID-19 Patient Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Maine Point of Care Test Reporting (PDF)
- BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card Webinar
All negative and positive results must be reported to Maine CDC using REDCap. Abbott technical support is available for questions: 1-800-257-9525.
Popular Resources
HETL Swab and Media Chart for Submitting Samples (PDF)
Full list of Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)-
Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of PPE
COVID-19 Testing Coverage for Uninsured Individuals
Standing Order for COVID-19 Testing (PDF)
Standing Order FAQs for COVID-19 Testing (PDF)
Quarantine Guidance for Healthcare and Critical Infrastructure Workers with COVID-19 Exposure (PDF)
Health Alert Network (HAN) Advisories
- Updates and Clarifications to "COVID-19 Updates: Quarantine and Testing - January 27, 2021" - February 2, 2021 (PDF)
- COVID-19 Updates: Quarantine and Testing - January 27, 2021 (PDF)
- Adverse Event Related to Vaccination with Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine - December 24, 2020 (PDF)
- COVID-19 Vaccination Training and Education - December 14, 2020 (PDF)
- Changes to Maine CDC's Quarantine Policy - December 4, 2020 (PDF)
- FAQ for Electronic Testing Order and Reporting (eTOR) and Submitting COVID-19 Specimens - September 29, 2020 (PDF)
- COVID-19 Testing Updates - September 8, 2020 (PDF)
- Changes to U.S. CDC COVID-19 Guidance - July 24, 2020 (PDF)
- COVID-19 Testing at HETL - June 30, 2020 (PDF)
- Universal Testing in Congregate Living Settings - May 23, 2020 (PDF)
- Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome Potentially Associated with COVID-19 - May 11, 2020 (PDF)
The MaineHAN is a secure, web-based communication system used by Maine CDC and its partners to exchange information within and between their respective agencies. Physicians, nurses, hospital staff, emergency preparedness and mangement personal, first responders, and other public health workers are encouraged to sign up.