❓ Hon. Colin de Grussa asks about the accuracy of V-Chek COVID-19 antigen saliva tests used in schools and the government's health advice regarding false negatives. The Minister confirms the tests meet TGA standards and PCR tests are the gold standard, and states no specific health advice on false negatives has been received.
AnsweredQoN 450Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS — V-CHEK COVID-19 ANTIGEN SALIVA TEST
450. Hon COLIN de GRUSSA to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to concerns expressed by
parents of children attending schools throughout the Esperance district, as
well as local constituents, regarding the accuracy of the V-Chek COVID-19
antigen saliva test distributed to schools by the state government.
(1) Can the minister please confirm
the level of accuracy for the —
(a) V-Chek COVID-19 antigen saliva
test;
(b) V-Chek COVID-19 rapid home
nasal test, as distributed by the state government; and
(c) polymerase chain reaction, or
PCR, tests as undertaken by the state government?
(2) Has the
government received any health advice regarding the propensity for
schoolchildren undertaking the V-Chek COVID-19 antigen saliva test to falsely
test negative; and, if so, can that advice be tabled?
450. Hon COLIN de GRUSSA to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to concerns expressed by
parents of children attending schools throughout the Esperance district, as
well as local constituents, regarding the accuracy of the V-Chek COVID-19
antigen saliva test distributed to schools by the state government.
(1) Can the minister please confirm
the level of accuracy for the —
(a) V-Chek COVID-19 antigen saliva
test;
(b) V-Chek COVID-19 rapid home
nasal test, as distributed by the state government; and
(c) polymerase chain reaction, or
PCR, tests as undertaken by the state government?
(2) Has the
government received any health advice regarding the propensity for
schoolchildren undertaking the V-Chek COVID-19 antigen saliva test to falsely
test negative; and, if so, can that advice be tabled?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) (a)–(b) Rapid antigen tests that are approved for
use by the Therapeutic Goods Administration must have a sensitivity of 80 per
cent or above. The TGA classifies V-Chek COVID-19 antigen saliva tests as
having very high sensitivity, with a clinical sensitivity greater than 95 per
cent. The test accuracy of the V-Chek COVID-19 rapid home nasal test is
reported by the manufacturer as 98 per cent.
(c) PCR tests, as
undertaken by the state government, are the gold standard for the diagnosis of COVID-19 as they are the most accurate tests
available, being more sensitive than the COVID-19 antigen tests.
(2) No.
some notice of the question.
(1) (a)–(b) Rapid antigen tests that are approved for
use by the Therapeutic Goods Administration must have a sensitivity of 80 per
cent or above. The TGA classifies V-Chek COVID-19 antigen saliva tests as
having very high sensitivity, with a clinical sensitivity greater than 95 per
cent. The test accuracy of the V-Chek COVID-19 rapid home nasal test is
reported by the manufacturer as 98 per cent.
(c) PCR tests, as
undertaken by the state government, are the gold standard for the diagnosis of COVID-19 as they are the most accurate tests
available, being more sensitive than the COVID-19 antigen tests.
(2) No.
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