False negatives at testing site: Covid sufferers in Berkshire are mistakenly given all-clear
False negatives at testing site: Covid sufferers in Berkshire are mistakenly given the all-clear after problems at lab as locals are urged to get retested
West Berkshire Council called for people to go back to Newbury ShowgroundThe false negatives were reportedly caused by one lab – rather than whole siteBut there are concerns for people who have gone to other sites in South West
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A Covid testing site is urging people to return for another PCR test amid fears they were given false negatives.
West Berkshire Council called for them to visit Newbury Showground for another test.
The false negatives were reportedly caused by one lab – rather than the site – and are now fixed.
But there are concerns for people who have gone to other centres across the South West of England, with more details to be released later on Friday.
West Berkshire Council called for them to visit Newbury Showground for another test (file photo)
West Berkshire Council said: ‘Over the past month, some PCR tests completed at the Newbury Showground testing site, operated by the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC), have had results sent out that may have incorrectly shown as negative for Covid-19.
‘After receiving reports from local residents in recent weeks that there were concerns about the accuracy of test results from the site, we passed these concerns onto the DHSC for further investigation.
‘The DHSC has now confirmed that a number of sites nationally may have been affected by this issue, including the one at Newbury Showground.’
The coronavirus testing centre, based at the events venue on the outskirts of the historic market town, is run by the government.
Sites like this dish out the majority of PCR tests, with samples send to labs for analysis before results are sent back by text or email within 72 hours.
The council claimed the government told them ‘a number of sites nationally may have been affected by this issue, including the one at Newbury Showground’.
The false negatives were reportedly caused by one lab – rather than the site – and are now fixed. Pictured: Health Secretary Sajid Javid
Councillor Graham Bridgman told the Sun: ‘We are aware there was an issue with some tests undertaken at Newbury Showground earlier this month, which has now been resolved.
‘We would urge any residents that are concerned about their results to book another test as soon as possible so we can continue to prevent the spread of the virus across the district.’
There have been reports across the South West of England of lateral flow tests giving them negative results before PCR tests say they are positive.
The UK’s Health Security Agency, formerly PHE, said it was aware of ‘some areas across the country’ faced with these issues and was investigating.
