For parents, it can be challenging to see your children come down with a fever or nasty cough – especially when the only option seems to be a long wait in a packed emergency room.
And this winter, we have only seen emergency room waits climb, with new national data showing hospital admissions due to influenza have jumped by a massive 50% in just two weeks, with RSV admissions also climbing by 21%¹. More kids are ending up in ICU, and more are needing ventilators¹.
Our healthcare system is under serious pressure – and flu season is far from over. If you’re a parent, you’re probably already familiar with the mental juggle: Is this serious enough for a doctor? Should we wait it out? Is it something we could’ve caught earlier?
The good news is, yes! In many cases, we can catch these illnesses earlier, and we can act sooner. And it starts at home.
Every year, 18,000 Australians end up in hospital with flu and respiratory infections². But about one in 18 of those trips could have been avoided with earlier care³. That means less stress, fewer emergency department visits, and more beds available for people who need them the most.
One of the easiest ways to stay ahead of winter illness is by using an at-home rapid test. Our Triple Combo Rapid Antigen Test detects three of the major viruses doing the rounds – flu A/B, RSV, and COVID-19 – in just 15 minutes, using a simple nasal swab.
Think of it as your family’s first line of defence. Instead of stressing about symptoms or heading straight to the ED, you can test at home, get answers quickly, and calmly GP visit to confirm your next steps – clarity without the chaos.
And in a season like this one, where hospital wait times are stretching⁴ and more kids are ending up seriously unwell⁵, that early action really does matter.
We’re seeing flu rates highest among kids aged five to nine⁵, so it’s no surprise schools and homes can be hotspots. And once one person gets sick, it can throw the whole family off – missed work, childcare issues, cancelled plans, and a whole lot of stress.
That’s why we’re encouraging families to make self-testing part of their winter routine – just like washing hands and keeping tissues handy. Having a test on hand means you’re ready to act the moment someone shows symptoms and gives you more options and confidence to manage things early.
Once you have the positive test, you can speak to your GP to confirm the next steps, how to manage symptoms and stop the illness from escalating.
So, this winter, don’t wait and hope things get better. Don’t wait for half-day queues in the ED or a last-minute scramble to get a doctor’s appointment. Act early. Test early. Stay in control.
Because sometimes, 15 minutes at home can save you hours, and a whole lot of worry, later on.
¹ https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-07/australian-respiratory-surveillance-report-30-june-to-13-july-2025.pdf
² https://www.cdc.gov.au/topics/seasonal-flu
³ https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/primary-health-care/potentially-preventable-hospitalisations-2020-22/contents/summary
Words by Matthew Salihi, CEO of Touch Biotechnology. Founded in 2020 in Sydney Australia, Touch Biotechnology is one of the leading suppliers and developers of at-home tests, diagnostic tests and advanced hygiene solutions.
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