Home Rapid Antigen Testing Expected Before Christmas

Health Minister Greg Hunt has announced the federal government is eager to roll out rapid antigen tests for home use as soon as regulatory approval is given. Mr Hunt said, “Subject to effectiveness against Delta, we would like to see these available by Christmas if not well before.”

Home testing would add another layer of community protection and complement PCR testing according to the Health Minister. Rapid antigen tests are already being used in aged care facilities, some businesses, and even the government-run Howard Springs quarantine facility. These tests use a less invasive swab, and provide results within 10-15 minutes, but are also more likely to produce false-negatives or false-positives. Currently, it is illegal to supply these tests for home use.