A union push to randomly test school students for COVID-19 next year has been trashed by an infectious diseases expert. 

The Australian Education Union is calling for rapid antigen tests to be supplied to schools and for “regular asymptomatic testing of all students and school staff” to return.

It says the governments are showing a “lack of concern” for the health and wellbeing of students and teachers.

But infectious diseases expert Dr Paul Griffin says random testing won’t be of much help for slowing the spread of COVID-19 in schools.

“Mandating rapid antigen testing, I just think, is not going to be the answer at the moment,” he told Spencer Howson on 4BC Summer Breakfast.

“The rapid antigen testing has some limitations in terms of its sensitivity and if we rely solely on that, people could be falsely reassured and that could actually contribute to making the situation worse.

“It’s not something that is free, of course, and obviously the burden of doing that test to those kids repeatedly is significant.”

Press PLAY below to hear what Dr Griffin says would be more effective

Image: 9News