Australians could test themselves for COVID-19 from the comfort of their own homes by Christmas once the medical regulator approves the testing measure.
Rapid antigen tests are already being used in a number of settings, such as aged care homes and some quarantine facilities and workplaces.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has suggested there are good signs the rapid tests could be approved for at-home use this year.
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It is currently illegal in Australia to sell rapid antigen tests to people for self-testing, with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) looking at how they can be made suitable for use at home.
"Subject to effectiveness against Delta, we would like to see these available by Christmas if not well before," Mr Hunt told The Age.
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The tests are not as precise as PCR tests, but they only take 10-15 minutes.
Rapid antigen tests are used throughout Britain, Europe and the US.
Mr Hunt stressed the tests would not be used as a replacement for usual PCR tests but would be an additional testing measure.
"It's an additional protection over and above the current testing, or the PCR," he said said.
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