Mornington Peninsula provider can identify if staff or clients have the virus in just 15 minutes
‘Terrified’ families dreading the end of lockdown have been thrown a lifeline. Here’s how.
An NDIS service has launched drive through rapid Covid testing for all staff in a bid to protect Victoria’s must vulnerable.
Amity Care is testing 200 workers twice a week along with respite care clients.
The Somerville based service is believed to be the first NDIS provider in Australia to roll out rapid antigen testing.
The test takes about 15 minutes to deliver a result and costs the service about $3000 a week.
Amity director of clinical services Priscilla Thomas said the expense was necessary to keep clients safe.
“We work with some of the most vulnerable people in the state. Many have complex, high care needs. Covid would be a death sentence,” she said.
Amity also uses the tests on clients using their Langwarrin retreat prior to transporting them to the property.
“A lot of families are terrified about what will happen when lockdown ends and everything opens up,” Ms Thomas said.
“This gives them peace of mind that we are taking every step possible to protect their loved ones from being exposed to the virus.”
The registered nurse said Amity had spent months researching the best tests and how to deliver them.
“The tests we are using are the gold standard. They are fast and accurate and can detect Covid in asymptomatic people,” she said.
“We are leading the way on this for the disability sector and have now established a task force that will allow us to share what we have learned with other health professionals.”
Ms Thomas said funding support to cover the cost of the tests and a full time registered nurse to administer them would make the rapid testing more viable for other providers.
Rapid antigen testing is popular in the US and UK
The medical regulator the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has already approved 33 rapid antigen tests for use under medical supervision in Australia.
The federal government recently gave the go ahead for tests to be available to everyday Australians from November 1.
However, individual states and territories will decide if at-home-testing is allowed in their jurisdiction.
