Where to get a RAT?

Reporting multiple positive RATS is artificially inflating numbers, if you are doing multiple tests because you don't trust the first one, do not report the duplicates.

Also if you have had a PCR in same period you should also not post duplicate RAT.
 
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I guess I'm covered by the below or it could get expensive View attachment 268930
You might need to get written advice or look into the details further as I'm not sure its classed as invalid.

NSW Health have noted/acknowledged that they will get multiple RAT+ from the same person and RAT+ from those that subsequently get a PCR+.

To me, it feels like all RAT+ is mandatory to report even though one is PCR- subsequently in the next day or two later.
 
In the UK, after you report a +ve RAT, once the PCR is taken that then becomes the number for reporting purposes, with the RAT disappearing i.e. they don't double count.
 
If ATAGI TGA hurry up and approve more of the Australian made RATs we could source more faster locally.

Its crazy we are sending RATs to USA and Europe but aren't allowed to use those same tests here.
 
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Though ATAGI has no role in approving RAT tests for sale. That is done by the TGA and they have only approved 1 Australian Manufacturer so far.

ATAGI's role is Immunisation. From their website -
ATAGI's role is to:
 
That is done by the TGA and they have only approved 1 Australian Manufacturer so far.

Ok so TGA needs to hurry up, I personally would trust a product manufactured in Australia much more than one made in China. And with all the tax payer dollars being spent on testing, better more of those dollars go to Aussie companies.

TGA should be prioritising reviewing Aussie made RAT submissions - we have two very large Aussie manufacturers awaiting approval since September, yet in Dec and Jan TGA approved more overseas made tests.
 
Surely also reporting RAT- will improve the data collection?. I guess that’s why Im not an expert

ABC said today that South Australia requires reporting of both +ve and -ve RATS so will have better data on positivity rate across all test types. NSW and Qld are only capturing +ve RATs so their positivity rate will be heavily skewed and inaccurate.

Here is the article, explains how our key indicators are problematic atm due to inconsistent reporting (timing, results) of RATs

 
Jindabyne one and only pharmac_ is using differential pricing for RAT

$22 locals
$30 everyone else
But they are price gouging everyone to different degrees, should not cost more than $10 per test.
 
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All tests have a false positive and a false negative rate.

just remember that RATs and PCR test for different things - one looks for presence of a viral protein, the other looks for RNA - they don’t necessarily correlate.
Fully aware of the differences in molecular target. Was saying that PCR false negative generally accepted to be lower than 10%
Helpful lay article here which explains the maths of why single RAT+/PCR- is still more likely to be truly positive


However my situation is different as have had repeated tests. Given the accepted specificity of a RAT is higher than the sensitivity of a PCR on simple maths that would suggest I am more likely to be positive.

However, with repeated discordant tests we are dealing with very small likelihoods that either is wrong on a mathematical basis
Wrong Abbott RAT+ x4 is (~0.005^4) less than one in 100 million.
Wrong PCR- x3 plus Innohep RAT-×1 is less than 1 in 10000.
However, with such small probabilities, saying one is higher than the other is pretty meaningless

In this circumstance it seems much more likely that there is something "wrong" with how one of the tests interacts with me. I suppose it's fair to say the answer as to which one is not certain either way

(This does ignore the pre-test probability-I am asymptomatic which makes me more likely to be negative but on the other hand my children had Covid which makes me more likely to be positive)
 
Newslink T2 SYD had heaps when I was just in there. Got a delivery this morning. Picked up a couple of twin packs
 
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