Performance of rapid antigen tests in identifying Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 infections in South Africa

•Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 continues to challenge the existing COVID-19 prevention measures.•Performance of the SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid test from Hangzhou Alltest Biotech (nasal swab) and the Standard Q COVID-19 rapid antigen test from SD biosensor (nasopharyngeal swab) was compared to the Abbott Realtime SARS-CoV-2 assay on samples collected from 540 study participants during the BA.4 and BA.5 SARS-CoV-2 wave in South Africa.•Performance of SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen tests was not adversely affected by the presence of additional mutations in the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants.