You should visit a GP respiratory clinic or see a GP about a referral to a pathology collection clinic for a PCR test if you: Take a RAT each day, over the next several days while you have symptoms. Stay at home until your symptoms go away. Testing advice for different situations I have symptoms but have tested negative on a RAT. you should stay home until your symptoms go away to avoid spreading your illness.Contact your testing provider if you have not received your test results after 3 days. You should get your test results within 2 days of being tested, but it sometimes takes longer. Your doctor or the clinic where you were tested will contact you by phone or SMS to tell you your results, regardless of if it is positive or negative. Go straight home and wait for your results. You should start taking COVID-19 antiviral medicine within 5 days of your symptoms starting. This is so you can get any help you need, including COVID-19 antiviral medicine, as quickly as possible. If you are eligible for COVID-19 medicine and you have symptoms, see a GP about a PCR test, even if your RAT result is negative. In some circumstances, you may need to pay for your PCR test. If the GP at the GP respiratory clinic thinks you need a PCR test, they will do the test for you during your appointment. Don’t forget to take the referral from your GP with you. Your GP should be able to tell you where your closest one is. If you have a referral from your GP, go to a pathology collection centre.They may give you a referral to a pathology collection centre. They will decide if you need a PCR test based on your symptoms and medical conditions. If you need a letter or other document of your result (such as for travel, medical, work, or educational purposes) you should contact a GP, who can provide this. RATs can detect COVID-19 more easily when repeated over successive days but will not detect other respiratory viruses, such as influenza.take a RAT each day over the next several days while you have symptoms.if you have symptoms, stay home until your symptoms go away.check if you are eligible for COVID medicines.follow the Checklist for COVID cases, including staying home for at least 5 days or until you don’t have symptoms anymore.You can also buy RATs at supermarkets, phamacies, and other retailers. If you run out of RATs, you can collect more to make sure you are prepared. You can collect RATs as many times as you need. You are not required to have a Medicare card. people with disability and their carers can get 4 packs of 5 RATs.an extra 2 packs for each person in your household.Where to get rapid antigen tests (RATs)įree RATs are available from your local council External Link, so now all Victorians can plan ahead by keeping some at home for testing if you have COVID symptoms. You can protect others by checking that you are negative before you leave home. before visiting elderly people, people with disability or people at higher risk of severe COVID-19 illness.ĬOVID-19 can spread before you have symptoms.

before visiting a hospital, aged care facility, or disability care facility.if you have been in contact with someone who has COVID-19.if you have COVID-19 symptoms, even if they’re very mild.Rapid antigen tests (RATs) are the easiest way to test for COVID-19.

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