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As the latest outbreak of COVID-19 takes hold as Christmas approaches, people have been waiting hours for traditional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. Now rapid antigen testing kits are in high demand with some pharmacies selling out of stock.
The Department of Health's Dr Lucas De Toca has explained that rapid antigen and PCR tests are useful for different situations due to differences in time, convenience and accuracy.
PCR tests need to be carried out at either a drive-through or walk-in testing clinic while rapid antigen testing kits can be purchased over the counter at chemists and carried out without assistance at home.
Both tests require swabs of mucus or saliva or in some cases, both.
It typically takes 24 to 48 hours to receive results from a PCR test but wait times as long as five days have been reported in the leadup to Christmas this year.
As its name suggests, rapid antigen tests are much faster and typically take 10 to 20 minutes.
However, the speed and convenience of rapid antigen tests come at the cost of accuracy, according to Dr De Toca.
"They [rapid antigen tests] are not as sensitive or accurate as the traditional polymerase chain reaction or PCR testing that occurs in laboratories or healthcare facilities,' he said.
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Dr De Toca said rapid antigen tests are most useful for asymptomatic people who need to get tested regularly for work.
"They [rapid antigen tests] are quite useful and are used very commonly in professions where people need to get tested regularly in order to enter residential aged care facilities or work at mining sites," he said.
"They have a useful role, they can help you understand or give an indication of whether the antigen is detected but it's really important that if you get a positive test, you get it confirmed at a testing centre by a traditional PCR."
Anyone with symptoms should have a PCR test at a testing centre, according to Dr De Toca.
"If you have fever, sore throat, shortness of breath, cough, even if mild, get tested at a testing site," he said.
While rapid antigen tests are a good screening method, they are not accepted as a legitimate form of testing by certain businesses and government authorities.
For example, interstate arrivals in Queensland must return a negative PCR test result in the 72 hours before their flight - rapid antigen tests will not be accepted by border staff.
Likewise, NSW, ACT and Victorian residents travelling to Tasmania also need to return a negative PCR test result prior to travelling.
Learn about the rules for entering each state and territory over the holidays here:
Shivé Prema
I am a video journalist and host of the Newcastle Herald TikTok account! I spend most of my days filming and editing videos but also like to write articles as well. I'm new to Newcastle, so I like to spend my spare time exploring this city and its many beaches.
I am a video journalist and host of the Newcastle Herald TikTok account! I spend most of my days filming and editing videos but also like to write articles as well. I'm new to Newcastle, so I like to spend my spare time exploring this city and its many beaches.
