What Rats Are Approved in Australia?

The Therapeutic Goods Administration has updated its list of approved rapid antigen tests, or RATs. These tests are now categorised into three levels, depending on their clinical sensitivity. The list is intended to advise prospective purchasers on the types of approved self-tests available in Australia. However, the TGA cannot approve all RATs that come on the market.

For instance, RATs are approved in Australia for use as a test for COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2. To be effective, these tests must be performed on a symptomatic individual within seven days of suspected infection. However, in Australia, many asymptomatic individuals are being tested with RATs, without any epidemiological link to COVID-19, and have been led to believe that the RAT will identify SARS-CoV-2.

The public health response to COVID-19 is a cornerstone of Australia’s public health response. To date, the government has made COVID-19 PCR tests available to the general public. However, people arriving on ship are not required to have a COVID-19 test performed.

The RAT results obtained by this test are essentially false-negative unless the test is conducted again. To avoid this, it is important to repeat the test with a new kit, or undergo a PCR test at a testing clinic.