Big 12 Football Program Antigen Testing Partnership Announced

One day before the start of the 2020 Big 12 football season, the league has finally released a few details on the COVID-19 tests that will be administered the day before games.

The Big 12 Conference has established an antigen testing partnership with Virtual Care for Families. Big 12 football programs will utilize Virtual Care for Families to facilitate COVID-19 day-prior-to-competition testing for players, coaches and support personnel. The testing program will utilize Quidel Rapid Antigen tests which allows for 15-minute results and batch testing capabilities.

“Partnering with Virtual Care for Families provides a turn-key solution to antigen testing and ensures consistent, conference-wide protocols,” said Big 12 Executive Associate Commissioner Edward Stewart.

“We are excited to partner with the Big 12 on this testing program,” commented Virtual Care for Families CEO Brian White, “and applaud the Conference in taking this important step to bring back college sports while staying supremely focused on the health and safety of its student-athletes.”

As part of its testing protocols Big 12 football programs are required to test for COVID-19 three times per week, with each program facilitating providers for the additional weekly tests. The antigen test, which is saliva-based, will be administered the day before games (typically Friday), but will move to the day prior to competition for games on other days.

Big 12 schools are also responsible for conducting nasal swab testing (PCR) twice a week, typically Sunday and Wednesday. The results for those tests take longer to return.

No plans have been detailed for announcements on those players who are held out due to positive day-before-competition tests.

Virtual Care for Families delivers online medical care, where patients can talk directly to a physicians and licensed providers over video from their phone, tablet, or computer. This enables patients to quickly consult with an online provider without leaving their home (even if they don’t live near one of our urgent care clinics). This service is available in schools, for k-12 students, colleges, for districts and college partners and includes telemedicine services, COVID-19 testing, strep, flu and other diagnostics for both students and student athletes. Virtual Care for Families also provides COVID-19 testing for employers who wish to return to the office, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Virtual Care for Kids is powered by Urgent Care for Kids which is the largest pediatric urgent care chain in Texas with locations throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, and Austin, TX areas.