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Rapid COVID test providers say they could open borders.

Health officials are considering how rapid coronavirus tests could be rolled out, as producers claim they can help to open the borders.

Pantonic Health directors Laura Panton, left, and sister Sally. Picture: Aaron Francis
Pantonic Health directors Laura Panton, left, and sister Sally. Picture: Aaron Francis

Australia’s top health officials are considering how rapid ­coronavirus tests that can detect cases in 30 minutes should be rolled out, as distributors say they can help to open the ­borders.

As countries around the world invest in and distribute rapid antigen tests — which require only a saliva swab instead of prodding the throat and nose — the Australian Health Protections Principals Committee will consider how these products should be used here.

Pantonic Health directors Sally and Laura Panton — the daughters of David Panton, the long-time partner of former foreign minister Julie Bishop — are among four Australian distributors ready to roll out the anti-gen tests following approvals by the Therapeutic Goods Administration last week.

The tests could be used to help turnaround tests of aged-care workers quicker, and speed up the opening of borders and the return of mass events.

“They are low-cost, easy to use, point-of-care devices that produce results in 10 minutes. Alternatively, results from existing lab-based PCR tests can take days,” Laura Panton told The Australian.

“Rapid antigen tests will add critical capacity to the existing testing systems and an alter­native to long wait times.

“We see our rapid antigen tests being particularly important for frequent testing in high-risk settings such as hospitals and aged-care facilities, and more widely for large work­forces and major events, and will allow for the safe and cost-effective opening of interstate and international borders.”

Antigen tests have become a key plank in testing strategies with large COVID-19 outbreaks around the world.

The Trump administration bought 150 million rapid antigen tests in early September, as the product awaits TGA approval.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will spend £180bn ($325bn) on rapid tests with the aim of testing 10 million people a day.

Germany has already ordered 20 million rapid antigen tests and France and Switzerland are also shoring up their supplies.

Critics say the tests produce more false negative results than the traditional COVID test.

A spokesman for Health Minister Greg Hunt said top doctors would consider the antigen tests, but Australia’s current testing capacity was enough to deal with any COVID spikes.

“While rapid antigen tests can provide a result within 15-30 minutes, they are generally considered to be less sensitive than a polymerase chain reaction test for the diagnosis of COVID-19,” he said.

“There are currently four rapid antigen tests included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods that can be used at the point-of-care.

“In Australia, we have a highly sophisticated private and public pathology sector which has sufficient testing capacity and capability to manage the current symptomatic testing and contact tracing requirements. AHPPC is preparing advice for governments to consider on the use of these tests in Australia.”

Laura Panton said US studies showed the tests were effective and the higher use of rapid tests would offset the sensitivity issue.

Read related topics:Coronavirus

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/rapid-covid-test-providers-say-they-could-open-borders/news-story/c3203f2117eb61129a8c308184ed4e61