Expert clarifies after confusion over whether all rapid tests detect Omicron

An expert has provided clarification after concerned Victorians this morning contacted Neil Mitchell with worries that some rapid antigen tests do not detect Omicron.

Some parents say they were given RATs to test their school-aged children which, according to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) website do not detect the variant.

Packaging of some tests, which says they test for Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta, but with no mention of Omicron, have also caused confusion.

But an infectious diseases expert says there’s no need to worry.

“When the packaging is done and the approval is given, the tests made only up until that time have been against Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta,” infectious diseases paediatrician at Sydney University, Robert Booy, said.

“Omicron turned up in December so since then the TGA and pathology departments … have carefully used spike Omicron samples and tested to see whether the rapid antigen picked them up, and what I’m hearing is that they successfully showed that the tests were working for Omicron.”

Professor Booy says the TGA website needs to be updated.

“My understanding is they’ve all been checked and if they’re being distributed for the detection of COVID they will find Omicron,” he said.

A statement from Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley’s office assures “all the Rapid Antigen Tests ordered by the Victorian Government for schools are effective in detecting coronavirus variants, including Omicron”.

“This has been validated in laboratory studies by the Doherty Institute, which has published research here.”

Press PLAY below to hear the Professor Booy’s explanation