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With retail stock difficult to find, Cheavy Taing found another way to make sure his customers could get tested for COVID-19.

Pharmacist finds a fast and affordable way to provide rapid antigen tests o

After consumers stripped his pharmacy shelves of at-home rapid antigen tests, Cheavy Taing turned to an untapped resource to help those needing a COVID-19 diagnosis.

The pharmacist and manager of Direct Chemist Outlet Clarinda started testing his community in Melbourne’s south-east using a type of rapid antigen test that can only be administered by health workers.

Dressed in PPE, he administers the tests outside his pharmacy, with the process taking about 15 minutes for each customer. He tests up to 80 customers a day and believes he’s providing a vital community service.

“I would prefer to sell them directly, but we can’t get hold of retail stock,” Mr Taing said. “The only stock available is for use by health care professionals.”

By charging consumers $25, Mr Taing said he only made a small profit.

While some customers want a “peace of mind” test ahead of visiting friends and relatives, others might have come into contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case but aren’t considered a close contact under the new, narrower definition so don’t qualify for a PCR test.

Many have driven to dozens of pharmacies searching for the sought-after at-home tests.

Mr Taing said he had never sold the point-of-care tests. “With the current demand and the unavailability of the take-home kits, we had to take the initiative,” he said.