Free Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) Home Testing Kits
Free RAT Kits

Instructions

  1. FREE 5-Test Pack per Waitākere household (Waitākere Residents Use Only)
  2. At checkout enter coupon code: Westie
  3. We will text you back to confirm collection from our Laingholm contactless drive thru or courier these to you if requested on the order.

nb. Te Whatu Ora have stopped funding free test kits from 1st October 2024. People needing RATs can still order them from our website or purchase them from community pharmacies and selected retail stores.

If you require a printed copy then please let us know, otherwise we will save the trees and printing costs.

When you should get a test

Doing a test and reporting the result means you can get the help you need as early as possible.

  • you have cold, flu or COVID-19 symptoms (e.g. a fever, new or worsening cough, sore or scratchy throat, shortness of breath, sneezing and running nose), get a test as soon as you start to feel unwell.
  • are a Household Contact
  • are part of the healthcare and emergency service workforce
  • have been told to get a test by a Health Official/Professional (provided free from your doctor or health provider)

Household Contacts of someone who has COVID-19 should be tested, Close Contacts do not need a test but should wear a mask when away from home:

  • If someone in your household tests positive for COVID-19, you DO NOT need to self-isolate but you should test daily for 5 days with a rapid antigen test (RAT) from the day the person with COVID-19 tested positive. Day zero is the day the first person became symptomatic or got their COVID test. If you test positive for COVID-19, you must self-isolate for 7 days.
  • Non-household close contacts do not need to self-isolate or get a test. Monitor yourself for symptoms for 10 days, and if any develop, take a rapid antigen test (RAT). Wear a face mask whenever you leave your home for the first 5 days following exposure.

So what is Rapid Antigen Testing?

Scientifically speaking, a Rapid Antigen Test (also called a ‘RAT test’) is used to detect the proteins found in the outer part of the COVID-19 virus. In the real world, a RAT test is basically a way of detecting whether someone has the COVID-19 virus.

But I thought you could just go and get tested easily enough – why should I care about RAT testing?

The answer to that is in the first word – it’s RAPID – a RAT test has the ability to detect the virus in you or your staff in a matter of minutes, so action can be taken much more quickly to avoid onward spread. This keeps the rest of your workforce safer and means staff do not have to be stood down while awaiting a test result (which may come back negative, meaning lost productivity for nothing).

rapid antigen test results in 15 minutes

So do I have to send my staff anywhere to get a RAT test?

No, that’s the beauty of Rapid Antigen Testing – it can be done on site in a matter of minutes, meaning minimum disruption to your work day.

So how is this test carried out?

Some more good news here – Rapid Antigen Testing is the least invasive method of testing. It is a nasal swab, but it’s only inserted into the lower part of the nasal cavity (not all the way up like standard COVID testing). Because it doesn’t need to go so high up the nasal cavity, it’s much more comfortable and less nerve-wracking for your staff! Once the swab has been taken, it can be tested on site with the results available in less than 15 minutes.

Rapid Antigen Test

Rapid Antigen Test – easy and comfortable!

Where should I record my Rapid Antigen Test result?

Report the result of your RAT through My Covid Record. To report your result, log in to My Covid Record or call 0800 222 478 and press option 3.
If you are part of the Close Contact Exemption Scheme, you must also tell your employer your result.