Victorian man warns people to double-check their rapid antigen tests after his positive result was ‘very faint’

One man has sounded the alarm on rapid antigen tests, warning there is one vital reason you should double-check your result.

A Victorian man has warned people should double-check their Covid-19 rapid antigen tests after revealing his own positive result was barely visible.

The anonymous man, who runs the Facebook page Covid Pete, posted a photograph online showing his RAT result.

“Thought I’d share my original rat test with you all,” he wrote to more than 189,000 people who follow the page.

“When I started having symptoms, and others who were around me starting testing positive with their RAT test, I decided to do mine.

“As you can see, the second line of mine is very faint. You must take that second faint line as a positive test.

“It was confirmed a few days later that I was positive via PCR.

“So, if you see the faintest of lines, please be aware and cautious of your surroundings.”

The post has attracted thousands of reactions, including one person who wrote: “I had the opposite. I had a faint line and mine came back negative. I’m very lucky. But best to be safe.”

Another person commented: “My partner had three RAT tests all negative then had PCR positive.”

Dr Sally Shaw, who oversees a Covid-19 testing site, told 3AW radio a faint second line should be considered as positive result if the person has symptoms.

“We need to assume that if there’s a faint line it’s positive,” she said.

“It only becomes pigmented – it only goes into that colour – if there’s DNA in there.”

Dr Shaw said people in that situation should isolate for seven days, even if they are unable to get a PCR test.

“If you’re just doing them because you want to go into work today and you’re doing a rapid test every day, and you’re perfectly well … and you get a faint line, then I would isolate for one day and repeat it the next day,” she said.

“If its negative the next day, then you can say ‘all right, you’re free to go’. But with any symptoms, the faintest line is positive.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will meet with state and territory leaders to discuss rapid antigen tests. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

For people who have contracted the virus, Dr Shaw said they should take extra precautions in the second week after a positive result.

“Isolate for a week as the government has said, but please, in the second week, wear a mask, hand sanitise,” she said.

“Be careful that second week – don’t go to grandma’s and vulnerable people.”

National cabinet will meet later on Wednesday to discuss making rapid antigen tests affordable.

It is understood Prime Minister Scott Morrison will propose direct cash handouts for concessional and low income earners.

They will get up to five rapid antigen tests, paid for through the same mechanism as the Covid disaster payment.

NCA NewsWire also understands Mr Morrison will offer additional tests to state-run testing clinics to hand out for free to people suffering symptoms or who are deemed close contacts.

It comes as demand has skyrocketed for rapid antigen tests, with many pharmacies and supermarkets selling out.

Mr Morrison previously said he would not make the tests free, to avoid undercutting the private market – a move that sparked backlash on social media.

Originally published as Victorian man warns people to double-check their rapid antigen tests after his positive result was ‘very faint’