A new report for Government on the use of rapid antigen tests has concluded that they may play an important part of future Covid-19 testing programmes.
The Interim Report of the Expert Advisory Group on Rapid Testing says that although the tests do not identify all cases of Covid-19, they are cheap and can be deployed at scale.
It says they can reliably detect those most likely to be infectious and the speed of the result enables rapid intervention to prevent onward transmission.
The report calls for ongoing engagement with Government departments, to support planning for current and future needs for antigen tests as a component of preparedness planning.
It says that currently, PCR testing is the gold standard for diagnosis of Covid-19 infection and anyone with symptoms should book an appointment for a PCR test.
It concludes that rapid antigen tests are an additional tool and not a substitution for existing public health measures.
It also points to clear evidence, both in Ireland and elsewhere, of widespread misconceptions among the public regarding how to use antigen tests appropriately, what the results mean for the likelihood of having the virus, and the implications of test results for subsequent behaviour.
The expert group was chaired by Professor Mary Horgan, Professor of Infectious Diseases and consultant at Cork University Hospital.
It is the fourth report produced here during the pandemic on antigen tests
Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, Prof Horgan said it is hoped that plans to send rapid antigen tests to the homes of close contacts will be "up and running next week".
She said that "a huge amount of the work has been done in the background" before the plan was announced as part of the relaxation of restrictions.
She said that these tests can be used to help "try to break that chain of transmission" as the economy and society is reopening.
Prof Horgan said that approximately 40% of people who have Covid-19 do not know that they have it, and the tests are a measure to "simply and easily" identify those people who are infectious.
She said her group has been working to ensure that people understand when rapid antigen testing is appropriate and what to do if a positive test is returned.
Work has also been done to link in with the test and tracing system. A portal has been created where a person who has a positive antigen test result can upload this result and link it in with the PCR system.
The phased return to the workplace could "potentially" be accelerated with the use of these tests, she added.
