Community & Business
9 February, 2022
Rapid Antigen Tests now available in Pittsworth
Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) are slowly starting to become available in Pittsworth, with Cains Pharmacy on Yandilla Street now selling the Oral Fluid tests.
Retail Manager at Cains Pharmacy Melissa Keeley said they received a shipment of approximately 900 RATs last week and they were flying out the door, with around 570 of those tests having already been sold by Tuesday.
Ms Keeley said at the moment they only have the Oral Fluid tests in stock but they have more RATs on back order with every company they could purchase them from, including the nasal tests, and they are waiting for each shipment to slowly come in.
At the moment, due to the small supply there is a limit of two tests per customer.
Currently, the tests cost $14.99 each or you can buy two for $27.99, unless you hold a concession card in which case you can get them free of charge.
The Pittsworth 7 Day Pharmacy is also set to receive RATs which they are hoping will arrive within the next week or two.
They said they have about 400 tests on back order.
With demand for Rapid Antigen Tests far higher than the supply, current stock in Pittsworth is set to sell out by the end of this week, so residents are urged to get in quickly if they are wanting to purchase some.
A Darling Downs Health spokesperson said there are some specific rules around using a Rapid Antigen Test as opposed to receiving a PCR at a testing clinic.
“We use two types of tests to detect COVID-19 in Queensland - a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), which can be done at home and may also be used at a testing clinic, or a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test which is only used at testing clinics,” the spokesperson said.
“You are able to be tested at any of our hospitals, there are also GPs and Pharmacists able to provide testing.
“You will be clinically assessed by our testing teams to decide if you need a RAT or PCR test.
“If you are a close contact or have COVID-19 symptoms you are able to be tested.
“If you test positive in a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) it is very likely that you have COVID-19.
“You must immediately isolate and report your positive test result so we can get in touch with you and support you.
“Currently, a limited supply of RAT kits are available free of charge at a limited number of Queensland Health testing clinics for people who have COVID-19 symptoms or people who are close contacts and need to be tested on day 6 of their quarantine period.
“You can also buy RAT kits in some retail shops and chemists.
“You can access free RAT kits from community pharmacies if you hold an eligible Commonwealth concession card.
“RAT kits are in low supply but are expected to become more readily available in the next few weeks.”
For a full list of testing sites visit www.qld.gov.au/health/covid19/testing
If you return a positive result on a Rapid Antigen Test, you can report it at www.qld.gov.au/rat-positive
For details regarding close contacts, visit https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/stay-informed/exposed-to-covid/close-contacts
