Researchers analysed 10 brands of rapid antigen tests and found only two were able to detect low concentrations of the COVID-19 virus.
abc.net.au/news/covid-19-rapid-antigen-tests-study-inconsistent-results/101911162A world-first study by Australian researchers shows only two of 10 brands of COVID-19 rapid antigen tests analysed picked up low concentrations of the virus.A minority of tests they analysed could detect low concentration of COVID-19James Cook University researcher Patrick Schaeffer said there needed to be an "overhaul" of the various brand of tests in Australia.
"The RAT tests that are available are not cross compared independently because they were released in an emergency act. James Cook University researchers engineered fluorescent nucleocapsid protein to test the effectiveness of the RATs.He said the method could be used to create a benchmark for the more than 50 other brands of RATs available in Australia."We need to totally benchmark all RATs ... to know what the detection limit is of those RATs," he said.
From the 1st of January this year Australians needed to obtain a referral from a GP or a nurse practitioner to receive a medicare-funded PCR test."It's clear COVID is not going away and so testing for it readily is going to be really helpful," he said."Earlier on the pandemic, we were very against them ... and then almost overnight, we pivoted, to recommending them almost solely without still appreciating the context and some of the limitations.
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