Australia regulator to review price hike in Covid-19 antigen tests

Australia's antitrust regulator said it has contacted suppliers of Covid-19 rapid antigen test kits to examine pricing pressures in the market

Australia's antitrust regulator said on Tuesday it has contacted suppliers of COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits to examine pricing pressures in the market, as calls grow louder for the government to make the tests free amid a severe shortage of the kits.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said it will review information received from suppliers, retailers and the public to determine any potential misconduct.

Australia approved more than a dozen rapid antigen test kits and a majority of them are from China.

Hangzhou Biotest Biotech, whose rapid antigen test was approved in Australia in October, said orders for its product from