Answering your questions about Rapid Antigen Testing
Rapid Antigen Testing is about to become a significant part of many workplaces – but what is Rapid Antigen Testing? What does it involve? Why should I care? On this page, Health Works Group aims to answer your questions. If you still have any questions or concerns after reading this page, then please get in touch.
Quick navigation for this page:
- So what is Rapid Antigen Testing?
- Why should I care about RAT testing?
- So do I have to send my staff anywhere to get a RAT test?
- So how is this test carried out?
- So how can Health Works Group help?
- Are there different options of Rapid Antigen Tests?
- So which RAT test should I use? Where can I get some advice?
- How do I keep track of whose been tested?
So what is Rapid Antigen Testing?
Scientifically speaking, a Rapid Antigen Test (also called a ‘RAT test’) is used to detect the proteins found in the outer part of the COVID-19 virus. In the real world, a RAT test is basically a way of detecting whether someone has the COVID-19 virus.
But I thought you could just go and get tested easily enough – why should I care about RAT testing?
The answer to that is in the first word – it’s RAPID – a RAT test has the ability to detect the virus in you or your staff in a matter of minutes, so action can be taken much more quickly to avoid onward spread. This keeps the rest of your workforce safer and means staff do not have to be stood down while awaiting a test result (which may come back negative, meaning lost productivity for nothing).
So do I have to send my staff anywhere to get a RAT test?
No, that’s the beauty of Rapid Antigen Testing – it can be done on site in a matter of minutes, meaning minimum disruption to your work day.
So how is this test carried out?
Some more good news here – Rapid Antigen Testing is the least invasive method of testing. It is a nasal swab, but it’s only inserted into the lower part of the nasal cavity (not all the way up like standard COVID testing). Because it doesn’t need to go so high up the nasal cavity, it’s much more comfortable and less nerve-wracking for your staff! Once the swab has been taken, it can be tested on site with the results available in less than 15 minutes.
Rapid Antigen Test – easy and comfortable!
So how can Health Works Group help?
The Director General of Health has confirmed that approved companies that are able to deliver ‘high quality, safe and appropriate rapid antigen screening for COVID–19 in non–clinical and clinical settings‘ will be part of the ongoing COVID-19 protection framework. Health Works Group, in conjunction with InScience, has 3 options for running the RAT test – our team can come to your workplace to test your staff, we can train members of your own staff to administer and read the test themselves, or – if you already have a sufficiently accredited person or people on staff – you can buy the testing kits directly from us.
Are there different options of Rapid Antigen Tests?
Yes – Health Works Group (in conjunction with InScience) can offer the following (with more options coming soon):
- The Roche Diagnostics RAT test (‘SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Antigen Test Nasal’). This has already been approved for use by the Ministry of Health and is ready to go. If you want to put on your lab coat, here are some more details about the Roche Diagnostic Rapid Antigen Test, or you can find out more details about what’s included in the Roche Rapid Antigen Test kit here.
- Coming soon: The Innoscreen Rapid Diagnostic test. This is Australia’s leading COVIC rapid antigen nasal test, TGA (the equivalent of our Medsafe) approved, and Aussie made. It’s not yet approved for use in New Zealand, but this will be coming soon. More details are available here.
How do I keep track of which staff members have been tested and when they should be tested again?
We are also working with a software company to develop an electronic system to support the use of RAT tests in workplaces. This will allow employers to have oversight and employees to be able to carry around an electronic copy of their tests results on their phone. We are hoping to get this up and running as soon as possible. This resource will be addition price on top of the RATs.