Pleas are being made across social media platforms as residents seek the at-home COVID-19 tests as an alternative to PCR testing.

Wagga mum and home-based business-owner Chantal Cameron was on Tuesday still waiting for results of a PCR test conducted at the MLHD drive-through clinic last week.

Desperate for an answer and feeling better, Ms Cameron called around pharmacies and stockists before resorting to Facebook two days ago in the hope a generous stranger might have a RAT to spare.

"I thought getting a test on Thursday, surely it'd come back by [Tuesday], but when we were getting close I thought 'no, I need to get the all-clear'," she said of putting out the plea as an important family commitment approached.

Another Wagga family has resorted to arranging for relatives in Sydney to send them RAT kits, given the demand is outstripping local supply.

In other news

Cincotta proprietor Mustafa Al Shakarji worked into the early hours of yesterday morning to pack orders of RATs for customers after a mercy dash to Sydney to secure kits for vulnerable patients.

"We saw the demand for rapid testing here so I posted on Facebook just to see expressions of interest for patients who require antigen testing and was flooded with messages and calls," Mr Al Shakarji said.

"So I went to Sydney for two days and ran around to try to gather as many tests as I could."

Even then, only 260 kits were secured at a hefty cost of $20 a test.

When the store opened "50 to 70 people were just waiting at the door" and the few tests remaining sold out in five minutes.

"I didn't charge anything extra, I sold them at the same price as I bought them in Sydney," the pharmacist said.

Most of the requests received are legitimate.

"For example, a family has a person with cancer, and they have to visit for cancer treatment so they require [tests] on a daily basis," Mr Al Shakarji said.

"Another family, their dad is in Queensland in hospital and they can't see him without a test."

Mindful of the impact a repeat expedition could have on an already inflated market - the ACCC yesterday declared it is monitoring RAT prices amid concerns of price-gouging - Mr Al Shakarji was pleased to secure a more solid approach.

"I've been able to this morning strike some deals with suppliers from different states," he said.

More RATs will be available at Cincotta today, and supply should begin to improve.

Meanwhile, Ms Cameron waits on a result from her PCR test.

"I woke up on the Wednesday unwell, Thursday I felt horrible, but by lunchtime was completely fine - probably it was the quickest I've ever gotten better," she said.

Yet five days later an official result was still unavailable.

Had Ms Cameron tested positive for COVID-19 she could be out of isolation as soon as Thursday, under the seven-day guidelines issued for confirmed cases.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: