The spokesman added: ‘There are pilots taking place in the worst-affected regions, so that includes the North West, the North East and Yorkshire.
‘Hospitals in Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Leeds, Newcastle, Basingstoke and Southampton will be able to test asymptomatic NHS staff.’ Three of them - Southampton, Manchester and Basingstoke - are already able to start testing staff while the other four will be able to shortly.
The spokesman said new tests will also go to ‘care homes, schools and universities in the areas which have been hardest hit.’ Those tests can give a result in ‘potentially significantly less than an hour’ and have been compared to home pregnancy tests because of their ease of use.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock yesterday said the tests were showing ‘real promise’ - and revealed the government is investing in manufacturing capacity to produce them in the UK
The so-called ‘lateral flow’ tests could produce results in as little as 15 minutes, potentially reducing the need for contact tracing if they were conducted regularly.
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A source said the £15 test had shown 100 per cent specificity – the ability to correctly identify a positive sample; and 96 per cent sensitivity – the ability to correctly identify a negative sample.
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Anyone testing positive will have to have the result confirmed by a conventional swab test before they are asked to isolate.
The new tests could eventually be mass produced to provide millions of units per day. Ministers hope that in the New Year they could be used to allow some businesses, including theatres and sports stadiums to reopen without social distancing.
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‘Hospitals in Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Leeds, Newcastle, Basingstoke and Southampton will be able to test asymptomatic NHS staff.’ Three of them - Southampton, Manchester and Basingstoke - are already able to start testing staff while the other four will be able to shortly.
The spokesman said new tests will also go to ‘care homes, schools and universities in the areas which have been hardest hit.’ Those tests can give a result in ‘potentially significantly less than an hour’ and have been compared to home pregnancy tests because of their ease of use.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock yesterday said the tests were showing ‘real promise’ - and revealed the government is investing in manufacturing capacity to produce them in the UK
The so-called ‘lateral flow’ tests could produce results in as little as 15 minutes, potentially reducing the need for contact tracing if they were conducted regularly.
RELATED ARTICLES
Boris gives Andy Burnham until 12PM today to agree to Tier 3 lockdown or they'll FORCE city in: Mayor slams Hancock's 'selective statistics' and calls for return to shielding as 10m people face tougher restrictions by Friday
Heathrow launches £80 twenty-minute airport COVID test amid hopes it will reopen air travel and quarantine will be cut to one week by Christmas
A source said the £15 test had shown 100 per cent specificity – the ability to correctly identify a positive sample; and 96 per cent sensitivity – the ability to correctly identify a negative sample.
ADVERTISEMENT
Anyone testing positive will have to have the result confirmed by a conventional swab test before they are asked to isolate.
The new tests could eventually be mass produced to provide millions of units per day. Ministers hope that in the New Year they could be used to allow some businesses, including theatres and sports stadiums to reopen without social distancing.
Share or comment on this article: Coronavirus UK: Government secures up to 20m 15-minute test kits
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shares
32 comments
