Rapid antigen tests should not be used routinely to diagnose COVID-19 in Australia given their relatively low sensitivity and the nation’s current low case numbers, say pathologists.

The point-of-care tests, which can deliver a result in about 15 minutes, are unreliable in low-prevalence settings, according to a new position statement released by the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA).

Broad use of the tests, which are more likely to produce false positives and false negatives, could lead to cases being missed and even hide the true spread of infection, the college said.

Instead, PCR tests remain the preferred method for diagnosing COVID-19 because of their high sensitivity and specificity.