‘Absolutely ridiculous’: experts condemn Victoria’s scaling back of Covid PCR testing

Epidemiologists have questioned Victoria's scaling back of its PCR Covid testing regime amid soaring case numbers and hospitalisations, describing it as a "backwards step".

Victoria has "scaled back" its mass PCR Covid testing program since the start of July, according to the state's coronavirus website.

A Victorian government spokesperson said there were "no restrictions" for PCR testing. But the updated guidelines state that its "targeted" testing approach is for "clinically vulnerable people" and other at-risk groups, or for specific circumstances such someone who is a household contact and unable to access a rapid test, or Victorians with upcoming surgery.

People who are symptomatic but test negative on a rapid antigen test, including close contacts, do not fall in this group, despite the tests having a sensitivity to the Omicron variant as low as 60%, according to the United States' Food and Drug Administration.

"PCR testing continues to be available to symptomatic Victorians at testing sites," the spokesperson said.

"Individuals who present at the site will receive the test most appropriate for their clinical need and often that is a rapid antigen test."

Clinicians at testing centres decide who can receive a PCR test or who should instead receive a RAT test, the spokesperson said.

Victoria is the only jurisdiction to restrict access to PCR tests. Guardian Australia contacted the health departments of every state and territory and confirmed that, excepting Victoria, anyone with symptoms is encouraged to get a PCR test.

Prof Adrian Esterman, an epidemiologist at University of South Australia said the decision was "absolutely ridiculous".

"The more testing we do, the better," he said. "Anything that reduces the amount of testing is a backward step.

Esterman said governments should be encouraging PCR testing due to the known issues with rapid tests, as well as the likely underreporting of positive rapid tests.

"Even if you do test it turns out positive, why would you bother to report it?" he said. "There's no reason, apart from doing the right' thing.

"We're getting this massive amount of undiagnosed cases out there. We can tell by the percentage of PCR tests that come out positive - around 20% around the country - that the whole country is awash with Covid."

The scaled back criteria comes as the state is in the midst of wave of cases driven by the Omicron BA.5 subvariant. The wave is predicted to peak next month.

The number of Australians in hospital with the virus has reached the highest point of the pandemic so far. As of Tuesday there were869 people in hospital with Covid in Victoria.

Prof Mike Toole, a Burnet Institute epidemiologist said limiting PCR testing could restrict access to antivirals within the required five-day timeframe.

"This is not a good move because we know that early in the infection, RATs can be less sensitive and be [falsely] negative. And that may be even more the case now with the latest Omicron variants," he said.

"A person who tested negative who can't do a PCR might go back to work and infect their colleagues, not to mention their family and friends."

Deakin University chair of epidemiology, Prof Catherine Bennett, said the new criteria could be a barrier that made it more difficult for people to access the $750-a-week pandemic leave payments.

Bennett said anyone who was symptomatic, particularly if they were a close contact of a positive case, should assume they had Covid and isolate regardless. She said a RAT could be repeated in two days if they needed to clarify their result.

The Victorian Greens' health spokesperson, Tim Read, said any Victorian with symptoms, including those who returned a negative RAT, should be able to get a PCR test.

"If people need to know to make a decision about whether to isolate or go to their grandmother's birthday party, it's in everybody's interest that they can get a test," he said.

The opposition health spokesperson, Georgie Crozier, also criticised the change.

The Victorian Department of Health did not respond to questions.