There’s question marks over the accuracy of RATs distributed to homes and students across WA as people report a high number of false negatives.

The tests are widely used as WA’s active COVID-19 cases reach about 90,000, with about two thirds of cases now reported as a result of self-reported RATs.

Deakin University epidemiologist Catherine Bennett told Gareth Parker on 6PR Breakfast the saliva test – where a user spits into a tube, or sucks on a swab – are generally considered less reliable than nasal swabs.

Hospital emergency worker Ceri Jenkins is an admin of popular Facebook page ‘Patients with COVID-19 Western Australia’ and told Parker more members were reporting false negatives with the lollipop saliva swabs, part of the WA government’s $38 million Free RAT Program.

Press PLAY below to hear more from Professor Bennett and Ceri Jenkins on the accuracy of RATs