Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) are being used as the primary test at Auckland community testing centres from today to help meet demand for testing as the Omicron outbreak grows.
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The move, which the Ministry of Health said is part of its planned testing strategy, follows RATs being rolled out to CTCs in Waikato, Bay of Plenty, and Southern yesterday to be used in conjunction with PCR tests in those centres.
Although there are still significant global supply constraints with the supply of rapid antigen tests, the ministry is confident it has secured enough to help the country through a widespread Omicron outbreak in the coming months.
There are 6.9 million RATs in the country now with around 14.7m expected by the end of the month, the ministry said in a statement.
Rapid antigen tests will be rolled out to community testing centres in other parts of the country this week.
Staff at the site will decide which test (PCR or RAT) is best for each person.
In Auckland, if people feel uncomfortable doing a RAT or a staff member identifies it as being appropriate, they may still get a PCR test, the ministry said.
It was anticipated that as the outbreak grows, more people would have Covid-19 and there would be more close contacts who need to be tested.
"The increased use of RATs in phase two and phase three of our response will relieve pressure on the PCR testing and reserve it for those who are unwell and more susceptible to the effects of Covid-19."
The new testing regime in Auckland will mean symptomatic people and/or asymptomatic close contacts whose RAT is positive will be considered a case and do not need to be verified through a PCR test.
"This will further relieve pressure on the system. This change will also be rolled out to other centres."
The ministry reminded people that after testing, they would need to record their result in My Covid Record, as well as advise their employer. Anyone unable to access My Covid Record, can call the ministry on 0800 222 478.
The growing outbreak across the country has resulted in laboratories no longer being able to pool their PCR testing capacity, which had previously helped reduce pressure in areas with high case numbers. There is capacity to handle about 31,000 PCR tests per day.