Rapid antigen test to pick up Covid, flu, RSV as pharmaceutical companies develop four-in-one RAT
>
How Australians will soon be able to self-test for FOUR different diseases with a simple rapid antigen test, as companies fight to get their home kit on pharmacy shelves first.
- Two types of flu and RSV can be tested along with Covid in new RATs
- There are several companies trying to bring the new tests to Australian stores.
- But they still need TGA approval without a concrete availability estimate
Australians will soon be able to self-test for four different viruses with the same type of rapid antigen tests we’ve all become familiar with during the Covid pandemic.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is considering approving four-in-one tests that will test for coronavirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and two different types of flu with multiple applications already submitted by companies seeking to have your kit on the shelves first.
The tests are already available in some overseas countries.
The process is similar to existing rapid antigen tests with a nasal swab, mixed with a liquid, and dripped onto a test strip; only the new versions will have four drop slots for the various tests.
Pharmacy Guild of Australia president Trent Twomey told 2GB that if the TGA approved the four-in-one trials, Australia would be among a select few countries leading the way.
The RATs of the new version will have four slots where the drops of the same sample will be placed
“Rapid antigen tests help the system cope with it and prevent it from being overloaded like it was with Covid,” he said.
“They’re better than 80 percent accurate, so they’re effective, but they’re not better than 90 percent accurate that you get with pathology-based tests.”
“Not only would it be cheaper than having a pathology test, but it would also be faster and easier than going to a lab.”
The tests are less than $10 in other countries and prices are likely to be similar in Australia.
Health authorities generally recommend repeat RATs to increase the accuracy of your results or confirmation with a follow-up PCR test.
Rapid antigen tests require a nasal swab, but can be done at home (pictured: sample to be taken in 2021)
The RAT modernization is just one month after Health Minister Mark Butler announced an update to Australia’s Covid management plan.
Australians needed a referral to get a PCR test from January 1, in a major change to how the country deals with Covid-19.
Butler said Australia was changing the way it handles coronavirus in 2023 and would transition to handling Covid-19 in a “similar way” to other respiratory viruses, moving away from bespoke fixes.
Low-risk individuals who test positive on a TAR are advised to stay home whenever possible and avoid high-risk settings.
Low-risk people who live or work with high-risk people, particularly for Covid-19, may get a remission if their symptoms persist even after a negative TAR.
High-risk individuals will be prioritized for PCR testing.
Those considered to be at high risk under the new plan include older Australians, First Nations people, people with disabilities, people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, people living in remote communities, people with conditions complex underlying health conditions and immunocompromised individuals.
Access to antivirals will continue to be available to eligible individuals after a positive test, either by RAT or PCR.