Yes, its puzzling that the AT1-AccBio test didn't make the cut (alongside Pantonic Health since the 'supplier' for both is the same)...and we know its not due to any test accuracy/usage issues (b/z Pantonic Health got approved with the same test)
Its also totally fine to be disappointed that AT1 won't get a piece of the NSW Education sales that would result from the 'approved' list - but as investors we need to keep perspective on the much larger picture (ie: the whole AU market).
The NSW developments show that AU gov, Fed + State health advisory body policies have changed to allow RDT usage (in targeted NSW crises circumstances for now)...that's what I see as the much greater change & of commercial benefit to AT1.
Also the article that lists all the places where the AT1 distributed Ag test is already being used/trialled/has been successful...those usage/sales events were already underway well before the NSW approved list came out - which also signals that there has significant positive movement in using RDTs beyond just 'its a temp crisis driven need'.
NSW Education might be a more publicly visible test case; a broader trial run by a state gov + Federal supervision, whether RATs are indeed worth widespread use or not...but it echoes strongly a broader demand that we know exists in the private, commercial & other state gov sectors - that people want RATs to be adopted as another prevention layer (with/without PCR test layers too).
We are finally having usage conversations beyond the closed 'no RDT necessary for widespread use' door - the very thing that AT1 CEO wanted the gov for last 12mths+ to at least evaluate - allowing private, community and gov sectors then in turn to also evaluate & seeking approval to use RDTs regularly - and maybe then leading to adopting wider consumer POCT / digital telehealth / other RDTs for general use.
The NSW situation (despite the limited approvals) allows the strong possibility of many other state + fed gov + health bodies will also adopt RDTs (or at least trial them more widely in their local sectors) - to continue preventing a few infections triggering a regular stream of random lockdowns...and trying to prevent also the spreading public fear (nowadays) of not knowing when the next lockdown might be.
The market for all the other hotel quarantine + essential travellers + state govs + private + commercial biz + health + general travel + consumer self-tests is far, far larger....and AT1 (alongside the other approved AU TGA RATs) can compete (maybe more fairly?) for far more lucrative supply deals than just NSW Education (if such doors continue to open as a result). This is the bigger picture that the RDT topic is heading towards...
