Eswatini Daily News
18 October 2021
International news: A covid-19 testing laboratory, in Central England has been suspended over concerns that it may have been incorrectly giving negative PCR test results to people who are infected, the UK Health Security Agency (UKSHA) said on Friday.
NHS Test and Trace launched an investigation into the lab in Wolverhampton after reports of people getting negative PCR test results after testing positive on rapid lateral flow device (LFD).
Government advice says PCR test are more accurate than LFDs and people can stop self- isolating if a positive LFD result is followed by negative PCR test result. UKSHA said more than an estimated 43 000 people may have been given incorrect negative PCR test results, mainly in Southwest England, possibly underestimating the number of people with coronavirus between September 8 and October 12.
“We have immediately suspended testing at this laboratory while we continue the investigation”, said Dr Will Welfare, Public Health Incident Director at UKSHA. There evidence of any faults with LFD or PCR test kits themselves and the public should remain confident in using them and in other laboratory service correctly provided. UKSHA said it was an isolated incident in one laboratory with samples now being redirected to other labs and overall testing availability was unaffected.
Many of these people will went to schools or work potentially infecting others. This could be part of the reason behind some of the recent rise in Covid 19 cases we have seen, said UKSHA.
Image source: Internet
