![]() ![]() They either test your saliva or require a nasal swab, though the probe does not need to be inserted as far as the PCR swabs.Ī result takes around 15 minutes, depending on the brand of test used. RATs come in kit form and you complete them at home. This can take several hours or even several days if the system is under pressure. The PCR test needs to be conducted by a trained health professional who swabs a patient's nose and throat, and the results are produced by a lab. "If a person tests negative with an antigen test but is suspected of having COVID-19, such as experiencing symptoms or have a high likelihood of infection due to exposure, follow-up molecular testing is important for determining a COVID-19 infection."ĭr Moy said that anyone who received a positive RAT should consider themselves COVID-positive and get a PCR test to confirm the diagnosis. "Antigen tests are generally less sensitive and less likely to pick up very early infections compared to molecular tests," the statement said. Although, it added, the data was preliminary. However, in a concerning development, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released a statement warning RATs being used there do not appear to be as effective at detecting the new Omicron variant. RATs have a much lower rate of accuracy than PCRs, but their convenience and the fact you can typically get a result within 15 minutes are benefits. Their approval was granted by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), which has also ranked each of those tests by accuracy, with "acceptable sensitivity" being at the lower end of the scale, and "very high sensitivity" being the most accurate.Īny RAT approved for use in Australia must have an accuracy rate of at least 80 per cent. There are currently 15 RATs approved for use in Australia. This will then alleviate the pressure on laboratories and people who are actually conducting the tests." How accurate are rapid antigen tests? If they're testing positive, then they go in for a PCR test. "It would be much better for people to actually have these rapid antigen tests. "When you have thousands of people queuing up, or you have long lines of cars where people are waiting for hours … this is unsustainable," she said. She thinks RATs should be used in more day-to-day settings, while PCRs should be reserved for the most vulnerable and those needing confirmation of their diagnosis. Jaya Dantas, a professor in international health with Curtin University's School of Population Health, thinks the purpose of the two tests is changing now that COVID-19 is much more common in many parts of Australia than ever before. Mr Colagiuri said he still had full confidence using RAT tests into the future, but said it was important to do your research to find out which ones were the most reliable. ![]() "That means you may get a test result, which comes back negative … but, in fact, you actually have COVID."Ĭatch up on the latest COVID-19 news here "The advantage of this test is that it's really convenient and you get the results really quickly, but its disadvantage is it's got a much higher false negative rate," Dr Moy said. ![]() Many experts agree, and are calling for a national approach to RATs to help reduce demand on the PCR testing system and ensure those who need one get priority.īoth types of tests serve a purpose, according to the Australian Medical Association's vice president, Chris Moy. couldn't imagine having to go line up for five hours try to get a test in the moment if you actually had COVID, because the symptoms were quite severe for me," he said. Mr Colagiuri does not think it is acceptable to expect COVID-19 positive people to line up for five or more hours for a PCR test.
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