Free lateral flow tests to non-symptomatic key workers

[Nigello]

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKSOUTHWARK/bulletins/2b97db4

[Sally Eva]

Re lateral flow tests:

"The tests are specifically designed for use on people with Covid-19 symptoms and are most effective at identifying those with high viral loads, who are the most infectious. They are supposed to be administered only by trained professionals.

The government is mainly using the tests on people without symptoms and they are carried out by school staff, meaning their accuracy drops. Official figures from a trial in Liverpool found they missed 30% of people with a high viral load and half of the positive cases detected using a standard nasal swab."

from the Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/14/regulator-refuses-to-approve-mass-covid-testing-schools-in-england?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

There are PCR tests for those with symptoms. These tests (explicitly for those without symptoms) seem to me likely to be misleading.

[intexasatthe moment]

That's my concern as well Sally .People will regard the LF test as proof that they do not have the virus . It's not accurate enough and there will be false negatives .

[intexasatthe moment]

BMJ article re accuracy

https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2021/01/12/covid-19-government-must-urgently-rethink-lateral-flow-test-roll-out/