Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 17
17
We are aware that the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the government’s regulatory...
Conclusion
We are aware that the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the government’s regulatory body which approves medical devices, approved 51 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/staggered-rollout-of-coronavirus-testing-for-secondary-schools- and-colleges; https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-asymptomatic-testing-in- schools-and-colleges/coronavirus-covid-19-asymptomatic-testing-in-schools-and-colleges; https://www.gov.uk/ government/news/all-students-offered-testing-on-return-to-university 52 Qq 13, 16–17, 118 53 C&AG’s Report paras 1.28–1.29 54 Q 117 55 For example:https://www.bma.org.uk/news-and-opinion/the-implications-of-rapid-testing-for-nhs-workers; https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4436 56 See, for example, https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4916 57 Q 116; https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evidence-on-the-accuracy-of-lateral-flow-device-testing/ evidence-summary-for-lateral-flow-devices-lfd-in-relation-to-care-homes 58 https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/research/news/articles/covid-19-liverpool-community-testing-pilot-interim-findings- published/ 59 Microsoft Word - Deeks Response 210114.docx (liverpool.ac.uk) COVID-19: Test, track and trace (part 1) 15 the LFD test in December 2020.60 However, we are concerned at media reports that it had advised the Department against using LFD tests in schools for daily testing of contacts of people with COVID-19 (as an alternative to self-isolation), because of the false assurance it may give to those testing negative.61 NHST&T contended that it had worked closely with MHRA on “all the rolling out of different testing protocols”, including piloting and rolling out LFD tests in schools. It confirmed that it was continuing with the process of rolling out LFD tests for people returning to school and for weekly testing of school staff, and that by the time of our session “up to 250,000 lateral flow tests were registered by schools”.62 Despite this, on 21 January, three days af
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
4.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: June 2021 4.2 Regular rapid tests are a vital tool in helping to identify cases of coronavirus that would otherwise not be found. Around one in three cases show no symptoms, and testing with rapid lateral flow devices (LFDs) helps find these cases and prevent the spread of infection. Regular rapid testing was initially focused on asymptomatic NHS and care home staff to support the resilience of health and care services and protect vulnerable people. It was then extended on a targeted basis to settings such as schools, universities and workplaces, and from April 2021 targeted eligibility has been replaced with a universal testing offer available to all. This includes a new pharmacy collect option alongside expanded home delivery. 4.3 Alongside the department’s universal testing offer, it is in the process of reviewing its plan on asymptomatic testing and intend to publish this information, with updates on progress in each setting, and with agreed targets focused on impact and outcomes. 4.4 All plans take account of the performance of available tests. Extensive and ongoing clinical evaluation, and MHRA approval, support the use of lateral flow devices and PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests for asymptomatic people. With some limited exceptions, we have not identified circumstances where LFD testing is not suitable, but its use complements existing regular PCR testing which has higher sensitivity but longer processing times. There are some circumstances where individuals may have physical difficulty in taking LFD and PCR tests and we are rapidly exploring alternative solutions for these groups. LFD testing forms part of a wider strategy to identify asymptomatic carriers, which includes contact tracing (including ‘backward’ contact tracing) and wastewater analysis.