Nphet must recognise 'reality' of antigen test use, says Iemag member

Cathal Walsh says public health team must offer people advice on how antigen tests should or should not be used

Philip Nolan, the chair of Iemag, compared antigen tests to 'snake oil' which Stephen Donnelly, the Minster for Health, said was not helpful. Picture: Rollingnews.ie

The National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) must recognise the “reality” that people are buying antigen tests and provide strong advice on their use, according to a member of the Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group (Iemag).

Public health officials – including Philip Nolan, the chair of Iemag and a leading member of Nphet – have in recent days issued a series of warnings over the reliability of rapid antigen testing as a means of suppressing ...