RATS for free get released

First batch dispensed

THE first free, community-targeted RAT tests have been released through the Townsville Hospital and Health Services testing sites, as the service reports 199 active known Covid cases as of 7pm on January 19.

Of those numbers, 22 were treated within the hospital, with three in ICU and the remaining 177 in the virtual ward.

Townsville Hospital and Health Service executive Covid lead Judy Morton said access to RAT kits was vital.

“From the point of view of the hospital’s response, we are gearing up to look after unwell people and the more pressure we can take off our staff the easier it is,” Ms Morton said.

The hospital has already been receiving Covid rapid antigen testing kits that are used at point of care, but yesterday’s shipment was the first of the kits that can be picked up by close contacts at the testing sites around Townsville.

“Consumer RAT tests are in much smaller packs. They vary between one test and five or six, whereas at the hospital, we use boxes of 25,” she said.

“The reason for the difference is that in the box of 25, there’s one bottle of the buffer solution that’s used, staff use those for testing large numbers of either patients or staff at the hospital.”

Only 3500 tests were made available in the initial shipment and the hospital was unable to comment on how quick they were expected to go and how many would be used daily.

For the time being, consumer RATS will remain unavailable through the wider Townsville Hospital and Health Service, with areas like the Burdekin missing out until supply can stabilise.

“We have point of care RATS available already at all our rural sites, as we get more supply of consumer RATS they’ll be pushed out to those communities,” Ms Morton said adding that she was hopeful ta second shipment would arrive this week, and supply would stabilise by the next week.

Townsville University Hospital chief executive Kieran Keyes said the tests would allow the service to further reduce stress on pathology clinics and reduce wait times.

“Our pathology turnaround times have improved a lot. We no longer have anyone waiting longer than 72 hours for a Queensland Health pathology result from the Townsville lab,” Mr Keyes said.

In the 24-hours before 7pm on January 19, 1185 tests were conducted by the hospital.