Rapid at-home Covid tests key to schools reopening

Australia’s ban on at-home fast Covid-19 tests used widely around the world is hampering efforts to get NSW children back into the classroom.

Australia’s ban on at-home fast Covid-19 tests used widely around the world is hampering efforts to get NSW children back into the classroom.

It is hoped the rapid antigen test (RAT), which can produce results in 30 minutes, would provide an extra layer of protection for children if they’re conducted at home before school.

This lateral flow test used by a person at home in the UK shows a negative result. Picture: Getty Images

Rapid antigen testing tests are widely used overseas.

But under current guidelines by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) the test must be conducted under the supervision of a healthcare practitioner.

Moves to change this advice and allow home testing have already dragged on for months.

An industry source said the supervision requirement added a labour cost of about $20 for each test. They are widely sold for about $7.

RAT testing has been backed as “the way of the ­future” by Premier Gladys Berejiklian, while her chief health officer said its use in schools is being examined.

The federal government has tasked the TGA with examining home tests, with a spokesman for Health Minister Greg Hunt confirming the work had commenced.

“The Minister strongly supports the use of rapid antigen testing in alternate settings, including at the home,” the spokesman said.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard supports the use of rapid tests to help reopen schools. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

Commonwealth Health Minister Greg Hunt supports use of rapid Covid-19 tests at home. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Residents in the UK have had ­access to tests to quickly self-diagnose Covid-19 at home since April, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison even using them daily during his travel there for the G7 conference.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said RAT testing was “constrained” by the TGA guidelines.

“Freeing up the use of RAT testing in a variety of situations would be potentially very helpful,” he said.

Experts have called for the TGA to overturn the rule in a bid to reduce the risk of children going back to school.

Infectious diseases expert Mary Louise McLaws says the at-home Covid tests are as easy as pregnancy tests. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

University of NSW Professor Mary-Louise McLaws said the TGA has been too slow in reversing the ban.

Prof McLaws said if the red tape was cut, rapid at-home tests could be rolled out in Australia in “big numbers”.

“That’s the way we could get every kid back to school, fast,” she said.

NSW Health is looking at using RAT tests in certain settings like schools long-term, as a screening measure.

“Clearly we look at all technologies and how they’ve been applied … in other countries they’ve been RAT testing,” chief health officer Kerry Chant said.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says rapid Covid-19 tests are the ‘way of the future’. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

Parents Will and Lauren Brincat have been home schooling 8-year-old son Teddy at home in Dee Why during the Covid 19 lockdown. Picture: Toby Zerna

On Thursday Ms Berejik­lian said she was looking forward to the ban being reconsidered.

“In certain settings, rapid antigen testing is the way of the future,” she said.

Dee Why mum Lauren Brincat said it was challenging juggling her day job as a psychologist and homeschooling her eight-year-old son Teddy.

But she said she was still worried about him picking up Covid in the classroom.

“The biggest worry for parents is the fact that the kids aren’t vaccinated,” she said.

“I would love to bring the restarting of school forward but I am still hesitant at the same time because the last thing you want is your unprotected kids to get sick.”