COVID-19

The 15 Australian-approved Rapid Antigen Tests, their sensitivity, and where to buy them in SA

Here’s a list of where to buy Rapid Antigen Tests in Adelaide and South Australia.

Following Premier Steven Marshall’s approval for South Australians to purchase and use Rapid Antigen Tests in SA, supermarkets, petrol stations, chemists and other stores have rushed to stock the tests, with many still awaiting orders to arrive.

Screening using Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) can help to identify people who have COVID-19. Not all RATs have the same sensitivity, so we’ve included a chart below so you can view the various Australian-approved options.

The test involves taking a nasal swab (using a small cotton bud) that is placed into a chemical solution. A result takes around 15 to 20 minutes. Anyone who returns a positive RAT is required to take a PCR test to confirm diagnosis.

The Chief Public Health Officer has determined that the number of cases now in South Australia makes rapid antigen testing a useful additional public health tool.

Rapid antigen tests have been used internationally and in some Australian industries as a workplace surveillance tool to screen people who do not have symptoms for COVID-19. By using rapid antigen testing in this way, workplaces may detect COVID-19 in asymptomatic individuals and prevent exposure in the workplace.

Rapid antigen tests are a screening tool only and not for diagnosing COVID-19. Anyone feeling unwell, especially with respiratory symptoms, is advised to get a regular PCR test at a testing site.

A negative rapid antigen test result does not necessarily mean that you don’t have COVID-19. Rapid antigen tests may miss the virus that causes COVID-19, particularly early and late in infection when virus levels are lower, resulting in a ‘false negative ‘or a ‘false positive’.

All positive rapid antigen tests need to be confirmed with a diagnostic COVID-19 PCR test and everyone who uses a RAT will be asked to fill out a surveillance form to provide ongoing information to SA Health.

If you have any COVID-19 symptoms, no matter how mild, please seek PCR testing as soon as possible.

Find your nearest testing site at www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/COVIDtesting.

More information is available at www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/COVIDcontacttracing.

For more information visit https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/ or call the SA COVID-19 Information Line on 1800 253 787.

Where to buy Rapid Antigen Tests in Adelaide and South Australia

The following list are venues that have, or will be getting, Rapid Antigen Tests for sale. Please check with each individual venue first, to ensure they’re in stock as many are waiting for stock to arrive after the public holidays. The tests generally cost between $5-$35 each.

  1. Officeworks (mid-Jan stock arriving)
  2. Foodland stores
  3. Priceline
  4. Chemist Warehouse
  5. Coles
  6. Woolworths
  7. NQR grocery….92 Churchill road Prospect 
  8. Drakes
  9. Blooms chemist – you can order online
  10. Diamond Skin and Body Clinic in Parkside
  11. TerryWhite Chemmart Marion Compounding
  12. AusHealth ONLY ONLINE PURCHASE, pick up or post out. Pick up location 65 Hardys Rd Underdale
  13. Crafers BP petrol station
  14. National pharmacies have posted on their Facebook page expecting stock from the 31st
  15. Midnight Chemist – Frome street, Adelaide from the end of this week.

If you know of any other locations, please send details through to [email protected] and we’ll update our list.

The 15 Australian-approved Rapid Antigen Tests

The TGA has approved the following COVID-19 self-tests (home use tests) for supply in Australia from 1 November 2021.

Please refer to the instructions on how to use each test (that are provided in the table below) for further information on what sample types the test can be used with (e.g. nasal swab or saliva).

Name of self-test* and how to use the test
Specimen type
Australian Sponsor (supplier)ManufacturerARTGClinical SensitivityDate Approved
All Test COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test (Oral Fluid) Self-Test (ICOV-802H) (pdf,366kb) Oral fluidAM DiagnosticsHangzhou Alltest Biotech Co Ltd (China)376310High sensitivity13 October 2021
All Test SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Test (Nasal Swab) (ICOV-502H) Self-Test (pdf,649kb) Nasal swabAM DiagnosticsHangzhou Alltest Biotech Co Ltd (China)376310Very high sensitivity13 October 2021
CareStart COVID-19 Antigen Home Test (pdf,6.17Mb) Nasal swabPantonic Pty LtdAccess Bio Inc (United States of America)342512Acceptable sensitivity21 October 2021
Ecotest COVID-19 Antigen Saliva Test kit (COV-S35Pen) (pdf,447kb) SalivaEmergence Technology Pty LtdAssure Tech (Hangzhou) Co Ltd (China)372335Acceptable sensitivity22 October 2021
Hough COVID-19 Home Test (pdf,3.48Mb) Nasal swabHough Pharma Pty LtdBIOHIT HealthCare (Hefei) Co Ltd (China)345031High sensitivity18 October 2021
InnoScreen COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test Device (Self Test) (pdf,1.15Mb) Nasal swabInnovation Scientific Pty LtdInnovation Scientific Pty Ltd (Australia)336146Acceptable sensitivity28 October 2021
LYHER Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) Antigen Test Kit (colloidal Gold) Self-Test (pdf,348kb) Nasal swab2San Pty LtdHangzhou Laihe Biotech Co Ltd (China)374507Very high sensitivity27 October 2021
My Covid Test Antigen Rapid Test (Oral Fluid) (ICOV-802H) Self-Test (pdf,366kb) Oral fluidAM DiagnosticsHangzhou Alltest Biotech Co Ltd China376310High sensitivity13 October 2021
OnSite COVID-19 Ag Self Test (pdf,2.22Mb) Nasal swabMD Solutions Australasia Pty LtdCTK Biotech Inc (USA)332961Very high sensitivity3 November 2021
Orawell COVID-19 Ag Rapid saliva test device (Self-test) (pdf,1.68Mb) SalivaMotion One Pty LtdJiangsu Well Biotech Co Ltd (China)377136High sensitivity29 October 2021
Panbio COVID-19 Antigen Self-Test (pdf,886kb) Nasal swabAbbott Rapid Diagnostics Pty LtdAbbott Rapid Diagnostics Jena GmbH (Germany)345192Very high sensitivity26 October 2021
RightSign COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test Cassette (Nasal Swab) (pdf,1.06Mb) Nasal swabMedsupply Australia Pty LtdHangzhou Biotest Biotech Co Ltd (China)333344High sensitivity15 October 2021
SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Self Test Nasal (pdf,722kb) Nasal swabRoche Diagnostics Australia Pty LimitedSD Biosensor Inc (Korea – Republic of)352250Acceptable sensitivity15 October 2021
TESTSEALABS COVID-19 Antigen Test Cassette (pdf,9.04Mb) Nasal swabPharma Soul Pty LtdHangzhou Testsea Biotechnology Co Ltd (China)373151High sensitivity18 November 2021
V-Chek COVID-19 Antigen Saliva Test (pdf,5.27Mb) SalivaCole Workwear PLGuangzhou Decheng Biotechnology Co Ltd (China)374065Very high sensitivity17 November 2021

Fore more information on Rapid Antigen Testing in South Australia, visit the SA Health website here.

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