Good to hear from the Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, that starting from next week, small-scale asymptomatic testing pilots using new testing technologies will begin, with repeat asymptomatic testing of certain groups to identify those most at risk of spreading the virus and break chains of transmission. Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Leeds, Newcastle, Basingstoke and Southampton will start by conducting testing using LAMP technology and saliva samples, initially on NHS staff. The pilots will see individuals tested weekly as a minimum.
The other form of new test being rolled out is known as “lateral flow”, involving swab samples, and not requiring a lab for processing. The tests can be turned around within an hour, and at the location where the test was taken. Confirmed results for all these will be notified to NHS Test and Trace, with those testing positive instructed to self-isolate. As the Prime Minister has announced, we hope to make these tests available to local directors of public health to help control localised outbreaks, particularly in areas currently subject to a ‘Very High’ alert level.
Through these pilots we hope that we will be better able to protect those at highest risk in the worst hit areas, as well as find more positive cases to reduce transmission.
These new tests will not replace current swab tests, and the government remains on track to be able to deliver 500,000 tests a day by the end of October. It remains the case that anyone with symptoms should continue to self-isolate and book a test via the usual routes.
As the Prime Minister said, these technologies will take time to be fully evaluated, and these pilots will not change the restrictions in place in many parts of the country. No country in the world has yet rolled out mass, repeat testing. We need to ensure we work out the most effective means to roll out these tests and build the logistical operations necessary.
We are working to initiate these pilots across the UK, and are in discussions with the devolved authorities to establish these new technologies can best be deployed to meet the needs of all four nations.
We'll continue to work towards getting well on track to have an efficient way of testing this winter, and I will endeavour to post updates on the website.
