Medical experts ‘to blame for shortage’ of rapid antigen tests

A leading international supplier of Covid-19 tests has criticised Australia’s early reticence towards rapid antigen tests.

Roche Diagnostics managing director Allison Rossiter.

A leading international supplier of Covid-19 tests has criticised Australia’s early reluctance to embrace rapid antigen tests, ­saying a hyper-vigilant approach by the country’s medical community has directly contributed to the nationwide shortage in testing supplies.

Roche Diagnostics managing director Allison Rossiter, who leads one of the country’s primary suppliers of RATs and PCRs, said Australia had been left badly exposed to testing shortages because of the medical community’s “conservative approach” to rapid antigen tests.

In an interview with The Australian, Ms Rossiter said Roche had secured more than three million RAT kits before the Christmas period “out of caution” and was in a strong supply position, but retailers had been too slow in ordering new stock, as Covid-19 case numbers began to surge across the country.

“There were ample tests before Christmas, but pharmacies and retailers were caught by surprise because I don’t think they ever thought RATs would take off as they have … and there was a clear lack of urgency around them at a number of levels for a long time,” she said.

While Ms Rossiter said the uptake of RATs had been held back by misinformation about the accuracy and purpose of the tests, she maintained the Morrison government could not be held to blame for the lack of supply and urgency, claiming that dubious advice from health experts should bear a large part of responsibility.

“I don’t think it’s any secret that some organisations in the medical community like the Therapeutics Goods Administration and the Royal College of Pathologists (of Australasia) were reluctant to embrace RATs even though they had already been in use and effective overseas for something like 12 months.

“I don’t blame the government and I do partly understand the nervousness about RATs in an Australian context, but it’s not Scott Morrison or (Health Minister) Greg Hunt who have made it difficult for suppliers.

“I think some aspects of the medical profession and the scientific community were too resistant to RATs because they’re not as accurate as PCRs. But no one ever said they should overtake PCR testing.”

Asked about the feasibility of making RATs free to the general public, Ms Rossiter said individuals identified as close contacts should receive a free test, but government should not be expected to fund tests “willy nilly”.

“If you want to test yourself every two seconds, go for your life, but you’ve got to buy it. If you’re at risk, of course it should be free … but if you’re going to a music gig, you have a personal responsibility to look after yourself and your friends. In that instance, you can afford a $15 test,” she said.

“It’s like practising safe sex ­or wearing sunscreen … I think people should invest in their own personal health in that way.”

Ms Rossiter also condemned the practice of price-gouging RATs, describing it as a “disgraceful act” that should be made a criminal offence immediately.

Depending on airfreight availability, Ms Rossiter said Roche would receive supply of approximately 30 million RAT kits over the next three months.