EAST RUTHERFORD (N.J.) — The New York Giants will have restricted access to their facility Thursday following an unusually high number false positives at the laboratory that handled their COVID-19 testing.
In-facility morning meetings were cancelled by the Giants and their office was closed to non-football staff, the team stated in a statement.
All meetings were held virtually. Players were not allowed to practice at the facility on Thursday afternoon unless their test results were being evaluated under COVID-19 protocols.
According to the Giants, Bio-Reference Laboratories is seeing an unusually high amount of false positives when they use Rapid Mesa Test. The team stated that all positive Mesa test results in the past two days have been negative by PCR testing, with one exception.
PCR is a molecular test which detects the genetic material of a virus by using a laboratory technique called polymerase chain reactions.
According to the team, experts are working with the laboratory to find the root cause of the problem.
The NFL and laboratory are monitoring the situation. They added that the Rapid Mesa Test is being temporarily halted and that PCR tests will be administered only.
After the Giants’ Monday night game against Kansas City Chiefs, 13 Giants members tested positive for HIV. All those who tested positive were retested, and only Burton Burns, running back coach, had a second positive result.
Wednesday practice was delayed by the testing of coaches, players, front-office staff, and coaches on Wednesday.
Safety Xavier McKinney, left guard Matt Skura and Saquon Barkley, running back and star of the injured team, were positive for injuries and were placed into the COVID-19 protocol. They missed practice on Sunday.
