It should get easier to find a rapid antigen test in the coming months, with the state government announcing the tests would be manufactured in the state.
Premier Daniel Andrews said Lumos Diagnostics, together with its delivery partner Planet Innovation, will establish a manufacturing facility and innovation hub in Victoria with support from the state government.
If approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, Lumos, who is already making RATs for Canadian and European markets, will produce one million tests per month from April, three million per month after July, with full production from October onwards of up to 50 million RATs each year.
“Manufacturing rapid antigen tests in Victoria will protect and secure the state’s supply chain and create local jobs,” Mr Andrews said.
There has been added demand for tests, with students encouraged to test twice per week before heading into the classrooms, along with recent changes to testing requirements.
Farmers across the region have been able to get their hands on tests needed to ensure essential food supply chains continue to run, through an initiative of the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF).
The VFF was in Geelong on Tuesday distributing some of the 56,000 tests it had bought and on-sold to local farmers who had been unable to access tests as pharmacy stocks dwindled.
VFF president Emma Germano said the overwhelming response from farmers highlighted the critical need and demand for RATs in the community.
“Our industry, as well as many others, have been crying out for RATs for months. We decided to get on the front foot and secure a supply of tests ourselves,” she said.
“Farmers and industry have been telling the government that without access to RATs, the new isolation directives intended to ease the pressure on our supply chains won’t work.”
